Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) has unveiled WH 1309, a high yielding, late sown wheat variety designed to thrive even in the rising March temperatures of 35-37°C. Engineered to support farmers facing delayed sowing due to waterlogging or late paddy harvesting, WH 1309 offers superior adaptability, early maturity, and disease resistance, making it a reliable solution for sustainable and profitable cultivation in Haryana and beyond.
The WH 1309 has been created by a team of the university’s Wheat and Barley Section, including Dr Vikram Singh, M S Dalal, O P Bishnoi, Divya Phogat, Yogendra Kumar, Harsh, Somveer, Y P S Solanki, Rakesh Kumar, Gajraj Dahiya, R S Beniwal, Bhagat Singh, Renu Munjal, Priyanka, Pawan Kumar, and, Shikha. The seed has received endorsement from Haryana State Seed Sub-Committee for its strong adaptability and reliability.
Due to delayed paddy harvesting, waterlogging, or other factors , wheat sowing often gets delayed in 15-20% of Haryana’s fields. This new variety, developed for late sowing, will give farmers better returns
The rise of temperatures in March, precipitated by climate change harms life cycle of wheat crop, WH 1309 has been designed to withstand these conditions, to ensure consistent productivity. The launch of WH 1309 can prove to be a major step for enhancing wheat cultivation, especially for farmers dealing with delayed planting and unpredictable weather.
WH 1309 High Yield Performance
In trials held under irrigated conditions, WH 1309 delivered an average yield of 55.4 quintals per hectare, with a maximum of 64.5 quintals per hectare. Field tests across multiple districts of Haryana recorded an average yield of 54.3 quintals per hectare for WH 1309, higher than existing WH 1124 variety, which yields (48.2 quintals per hectare, a 12.7% increase. Even when the variety was sowed in January, it still delivered 40-50 quintals per hectare.
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The grains of WH 1309 are large, shiny, and visually appealing, making them ideal for commercial sale. The variety is also resistant to yellow rust, brown rust, and other diseases, making it perfectly suitable for organic farming and saline soils.
Planned Sowing, Fast Maturing
Dr S K Pahuja, Dean of the College of Agriculture, stated that WH 1309 forms ears in 83 days and matures in 123 days, offering a fast maturing option. The 98 cm tall grain is also highly resistant to lodging and boasts 13.2% protein content, a hectoliter weight of 81.9 kg/hL, and a sedimentation value of 54 ml, making it ideal for staple wheat based dough preparations and nutrition.
Research director Rajbir Garg recommends sowing window of Dec 1-20, using 125 kg seed per hectare, and fertliser doese of 150 kg nitrogen, 60 kg phosphorus, 30 kg potash, and 25 kg zinc sulphate per hectare.
With its high yield, fast maturation, and robust traits, WH 1309 has potential to redefine sustainable and profitable wheat farming Haryana and beyond.