DBW 187 (Karan Vandana)
From IIWBR Karnal — the recommended upgrade over HD 3086 in much of the north-west, bred to hold rust resistance longer as older releases lose theirs.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Wheat
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 120 days (North Eastern Plains); 157 days (North Western Plains trials)
- Seed rate
- 100 kg/ha for timely sowing. Use 125 kg/ha if you sow after 25 November
- Expected yield
- Average 61.3 q/ha, up to 96.6 q/ha in best trial (NW Plains); 48.8 average, 64.7 potential (NE Plains)
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained loam — the standard recommendation for irrigated wheat in the North Western Plains
- Disease resistance
- Resistant to yellow, brown and black rust
- Release
- Notified 1 April 2019 (S.O. 1498(E)) for North Eastern Plains, extended to North Western Plains on 6 January 2020 (S.O. 98(E)) · ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal · timely-sown irrigated
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
DBW 187 (Karan Vandana) was bred by ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal and notified for irrigated, timely-sown cultivation in more than one zone — the North Eastern Plains (notification S.O. 1498(E), 1 April 2019) and, later, the North Western Plains (S.O. 98(E), 6 January 2020). It is a biofortified release, carrying about 43 ppm iron in the grain, combined with resistance to leaf rust and leaf blight and a semi-dwarf, lodging-tolerant plant type around a metre tall. In ICAR-IIWBR trials in the North Western Plains the average was about 61.3 q/ha over two years, and the best single trial plot gave 96.6 q/ha. In the North Eastern Plains the average was 48.8 q/ha with a potential of 64.7 q/ha. A woman farmer in Gorakhpur, documented by ICAR, harvested about 82.5 q/ha.
Should you pick this variety?
Pick DBW 187 (Karan Vandana) if rust has weakened HD 2967 or HD 3086 on your land, or if you want grain richer in iron (about 43 ppm). The plant is semi-dwarf, about 100 cm tall, and tolerates lodging. It is notified for irrigated, timely-sown fields in the North Western Plains (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi) and also in the North Eastern Plains: eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal. Yield figures differ by zone, so check the notification for yours. ICAR lists a potential of 64.7 q/ha for the north-eastern zone. It is newer than HD 2967 and HD 3086, so fewer farmers have grown it for many seasons.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing time1–15 November in the north-west plains, 10–20 November in the north-east plains (ICAR-IIWBR)
- Seed rate100 kg/ha for timely sowing. Use 125 kg/ha if you sow after 25 November
- SpacingRows 15–20 cm apart, seed placed 4–6 cm deep with a seed-cum-fertiliser drill (PAU)
- IrrigationFirst irrigation at crown root initiation, about 21 days after sowing. Later ones at first node (45 days), jointing (65), boot (85), milk (105) and dough (120)
- Fertilizer150:60:40 kg NPK/ha. One-third of the nitrogen with all the phosphorus and potash at sowing, the rest of the nitrogen in two equal parts at the first and second irrigation (ICAR-IIWBR, timely-sown irrigated north plains)
- HarvestingAverage about 61.3 q/ha in North Western Plains trials, best trial plot 96.6 q/ha; North Eastern Plains average 48.8 q/ha with potential 64.7 q/ha. An ICAR-documented Gorakhpur farm reached about 82.5 q/ha in practice. Matures in about 120 days in the North Eastern Plains. In the early-sown North Western Plains trial it took 157 days (HD 3086 took 154 and HD 2967 took 159 in the same trial)
Pest & disease considerations
Management notes
- Still worth scouting through the season like any variety — rust populations shift over years even in resistant releases
- Where local rust pressure has already broken down HD 2967 or HD 3086 in a field's history, DBW 187 is the current recommended step up
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Biofortified — about 43 ppm iron in the grain, a real nutrition edge over older releases
- Bred resistant to leaf rust and leaf blight, useful where HD 2967 or HD 3086's resistance has already started slipping
- Semi-dwarf, lodging-tolerant plant type recommended across the North Western and North Eastern Plains — wider adaptability than most older releases
Things to consider
- Newer release than HD 2967/HD 3086, so it has a shorter on-farm track record in most districts
- Reported yield potential varies by zone notification — the North Eastern Plains figures (average 48.8, potential 64.7 q/ha) are lower than the North Western Plains figures (average about 61.3, best trial 96.6 q/ha); check the notification for your zone
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Delhi
- Bihar
- Jharkhand
- Assam
- West Bengal
Two zones, two sets of numbers
This variety is notified for two different zones, and the figures are not the same in both. In the North Western Plains the trial average was 61.3 q/ha, with 96.6 q/ha in the best plot, and the crop took 157 days in an early-sown trial. In the North Eastern Plains the average was 48.8 q/ha, the potential 64.7 q/ha, and maturity about 120 days.
So before you plan your yield or your harvest date, find which zone your district falls in. Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh read the north-west numbers. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal read the north-east ones. Your KVK can confirm the zone for your block.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Wheat variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBW 187 (Karan Vandana)this page | Fields with rust trouble; iron-rich grain | 120 days (North Eastern Plains); 157 days (North Western Plains trials) | Average 61.3 q/ha, up to 96.6 q/ha in best trial (NW Plains); 48.8 average, 64.7 potential (NE Plains) | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal |
| HD 2967 | Well-known variety for timely-sown irrigated fields | About 143 days in the North Western Plains Zone | Around 50 q/ha in the North Western Plains Zone under timely-sown, irrigated conditions | Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| HD 3086 (Pusa Gautami) | High yield where irrigation is dependable; good milling quality | 143–148 days | About 54.56 q/ha average; up to 71 q/ha in trials | Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| HD 3226 (Pusa Yashasvi) | Wide disease protection; high protein and zinc | 142 days | 57–80 q/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Wheat is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Wheat plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Wheat variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Wheat into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Wheat in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Wheat rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Wheat seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow DBW 187 in Bihar or eastern Uttar Pradesh?
Yes. ICAR released it for irrigated, timely-sown conditions of the North Eastern Plains: eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal. ICAR lists a yield potential of 64.7 q/ha there.
What is DBW 187 (Karan Vandana) wheat?
A biofortified bread-wheat variety bred by ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal, notified for timely-sown, irrigated cultivation across the North Western and North Eastern Plains.
Why is DBW 187 called biofortified?
Its grain carries about 43 ppm iron, well above older wheat varieties, aimed at improving iron intake from everyday wheat.
Is DBW 187 resistant to rust?
It was bred with resistance to leaf rust and leaf blight, an improvement over older North Western Plains releases whose resistance has weakened with newer pathotypes.
What is the yield potential of DBW 187?
In North Western Plains trials the average was about 61.3 q/ha over two years, and the best trial plot gave 96.6 q/ha. In the North Eastern Plains the average was 48.8 q/ha with a potential of 64.7 q/ha. Your own yield depends on sowing date, irrigation and fertilizer.
Which regions are suitable for DBW 187?
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi under the North Western Plains notification, with a separate notification extending it to the North Eastern Plains.
Can I save DBW 187 seed for next season?
Yes. DBW 187 is an open-pollinated variety, not a hybrid, so the seed grows true to type. Save seed only from a healthy, rust-free plot and clean it well. Because it is newer and rust strains change, check with your Krishi Vigyan Kendra when to change to fresh certified seed.
DBW 187 or HD 3226: which one should I sow?
DBW 187 is notified for both the North Western and North Eastern Plains and carries about 43 ppm iron. HD 3226 is notified only for the North Western Plains, but it protects against more diseases (rusts, Karnal bunt, powdery mildew, loose smut and foot rot) and has 12.8% protein. If you farm in Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam or West Bengal, DBW 187 is the one with a recommendation for you. In Punjab, Haryana or Delhi, both are options.
Why does DBW 187 show two very different durations?
Because the zone decides. It takes about 120 days in the North Eastern Plains and about 157 days in North Western Plains trials. Plan your next crop on your own zone's figure, not on the shorter one.
What should I budget on, the 61.3 q/ha average or the 96.6 q/ha best trial?
On the average. In North Western Plains trials DBW 187 averaged 61.3 q/ha with a best of 96.6 q/ha, and in the North Eastern Plains it averaged 48.8 q/ha with a potential of 64.7 q/ha. Best-trial numbers come from managed research plots. Budget on the zone average and treat anything above it as a good year.
Sourced from: Women Farmer from Gorakhpur harvests highest yield from latest Wheat Variety — Karan Vandana (DBW 187) — ICAR, Development and evaluation of high yielding, multiple disease resistant bread wheat variety — Karan Vandana (DBW187) — Journal of Cereal Research, ICAR-IIWBR, Wheat Cultivation in India — Pocket Guide (EB-52), ICAR-IIWBR Karnal: zone-wise sowing time, seed rate and fertiliser dose, Package of Practices for Rabi Crops, Punjab Agricultural University: wheat sowing method, row spacing and fertiliser schedule. editorial policy.