HD 2967
One of the historically dominant wheat varieties in the North Western Plains, suited to timely-sown, irrigated fields.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Wheat
- Type
- Bread wheat variety
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- About 143 days in the North Western Plains Zone
- Seed rate
- 100 kg/ha at timely sowing, 125 kg/ha after 25 November. This is the zone package for irrigated wheat, not a rate set for this variety alone
- Expected yield
- Around 50 q/ha in the North Western Plains Zone under timely-sown, irrigated conditions
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained loam to clay loam
- Disease resistance
- Originally resistant to leaf and stripe rust; resistance has weakened against current rust pathotypes
- Release
- Released for timely-sown, irrigated conditions in the North Western Plains Zone · Developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
HD 2967 was developed by ICAR-IARI's Division of Genetics, New Delhi, for timely-sown, irrigated wheat in the North Western Plains Zone. It was also recommended for the North Eastern Plains Zone. It went on to become one of the most widely sown wheat varieties in the belt, at one stage covering more than 10 million hectares. The variety carries the 2NS/2AS chromosome translocation from Aegilops ventricosa, which carries the linked Lr37, Sr38 and Yr17 rust-resistance genes. These genes contributed to its strong rust resistance after release, but resistance has weakened against some current rust pathotypes.
Should you pick this variety?
Pick HD 2967 only if you already know it well and rust has not troubled your fields. It was one of the most widely sown wheats in the north-west plains, so dealers, KVKs and mills all know it, and it gives about 50 q/ha when sown on time with good irrigation. But its original rust protection has been broken by newer stripe-rust strains since the early 2020s, so you must scout for rust from tillering onward. If rust has hurt your field before, look at DBW 187 or HD 3226. If you want a higher yield ceiling and can irrigate on time, HD 3086 is the usual step up.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing time1–15 November, the timely-sown window for irrigated fields of the north-west plains (ICAR-IIWBR)
- Seed rate100 kg/ha at timely sowing, 125 kg/ha after 25 November. This is the zone package for irrigated wheat, not a rate set for this variety alone
- SpacingRows 15–20 cm apart at timely sowing, 15 cm for late sowing; seed 4–6 cm deep (PAU)
- Sowing methodLine sowing behind a seed-cum-fertilizer drill; broadcasting needs a higher seed rate and gives an uneven stand
- IrrigationFirst irrigation at crown root initiation, about 21 days after sowing. Then first node (45 days), jointing (65), boot (85), milk (105) and dough (120)
- Fertilizer150:60:40 kg NPK/ha for timely-sown irrigated fields in the north plains. One-third of the nitrogen with full phosphorus and potash at sowing, the rest in two splits at the first and second irrigation (ICAR-IIWBR)
- HarvestingAbout 143 days from sowing to maturity under timely-sown irrigated conditions; harvest at grain hardness (around 14% moisture or below) to limit shattering loss
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained loam — the standard recommendation for irrigated wheat in the North Western Plains
- Irrigation
- Waterlogging around the crown-root-initiation stage sets tillering back — standing water is the main soil risk, not the soil type itself
Climate
- Climate
- Needs a cool grain-filling period — a sudden heat spike in late February or March (terminal heat stress) is the main climate risk across the North Western Plains
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Stripe (yellow) rust — the original 2NS/2AS-linked resistance has been overcome by newer field pathotypes since the early 2020s
- Leaf (brown) rust — now only moderately susceptible, down from the resistance it showed at release
- Karnal bunt and loose smut — an occasional risk in a cool, humid grain-fill year
Management notes
- Scout for stripe rust from tillering onward, especially in a mild, humid winter — the original rust resistance should not be relied on alone under current field conditions
- Where local rust pressure is high, follow the latest regional wheat recommendations and consider newer rust-resistant varieties suited to the zone.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- One of the most extensively grown and field-tested wheat varieties in the North Western Plains, with extensive on-farm experience.
- A familiar, well-understood package of practices — most local dealers, KVKs and mills already know this variety
- Solid, dependable yield under timely-sown, well-irrigated management
Things to consider
- Original rust resistance (2NS/2AS translocation) has been overcome by newer stripe-rust pathotypes since the early 2020s — don't treat it as rust-proof
- Bred and recommended for the North Western Plains; performance outside that belt and its timely-sown irrigated recommendation is less established
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Delhi
- Rajasthan
- Uttar Pradesh
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Scouting an older variety whose rust cover has gone
HD 2967 was bred with the Lr37, Sr38 and Yr17 genes, and that cover held for years. Newer stripe-rust strains have broken it since the early 2020s. The variety still yields around 50 q/ha on time-sown irrigated land, but the disease side is now your job, not the seed company.
Start looking at the crop from tillering. Walk the field once a week, turn over lower leaves, and check the patches near the field boundary and along irrigation channels first, because rust usually shows up there before the middle of the field. Yellow or brown powder that rubs off on your thumb is the sign. If you see it, ask your KVK which spray is cleared this season, and plan to move to DBW 187 or HD 3226 next year rather than fight it every season.
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) | 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 2967this page | 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
HD 2967 or HD 3086: which one should I sow?
HD 3086 has the higher yield ceiling (about 54.6 q/ha on average and up to 71 q/ha in trials, against about 50 q/ha for HD 2967), but it needs dependable irrigation. HD 2967 is the more familiar one. Both need rust scouting.
What is HD 2967 wheat?
A bread-wheat variety developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for timely-sown, irrigated fields in the North Western Plains Zone — it became one of the most widely sown wheat varieties in that belt.
What is the sowing time for HD 2967?
Early-to-mid November, the standard timely-sown window for irrigated wheat in this zone.
What is the seed rate of HD 2967?
Around 100–125 kg/ha, the standard rate for timely-sown irrigated wheat in the North Western Plains.
How many days does HD 2967 take to mature?
About 143 days from sowing to maturity under timely-sown, irrigated conditions. A sowing in early-to-mid November is ready from the end of March to early April, so count back from the date you need the field free for the next crop.
Is HD 2967 resistant to rust?
It was bred with strong rust resistance (the 2NS/2AS translocation), but field populations of stripe rust have overcome that resistance since the early 2020s, and leaf-rust reaction is now only moderate — scout it like any other variety.
Which regions are suitable for HD 2967?
The North Western Plains Zone — Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan (excluding Kota and Udaipur divisions), western Uttar Pradesh (excluding Jhansi), Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir, Una and Paonta Valley of Himachal Pradesh, and the Tarai region of Uttarakhand — and, more recently, the North Eastern Plains Zone.
Should I still grow HD 2967 if rust has hit my field before?
It is better not to. Its original rust protection has been broken by newer stripe-rust strains since the early 2020s. If rust has hurt your field, look at DBW 187 or HD 3226. If you still sow HD 2967, check the crop for rust from tillering onward.
HD 2967 or HD 3226: which one should I sow?
HD 2967 gives about 50 q/ha, and rust can now hurt it. HD 3226 averaged 57.5 q/ha in coordinated trials, with a potential of up to 79.6 q/ha, and it protects against yellow, brown and black rust and several other diseases. HD 2967 has the longer track record on farms. HD 3226 is newer and was notified in 2019. For timely-sown irrigated fields, HD 3226 is the safer pick against rust.
When should I harvest HD 2967?
At grain hardness, around 14% moisture or below, which comes about 143 days from a timely sowing under irrigation. Leaving it standing past that point costs you grain to shattering, and the loss is hard to see until it is on the ground.
Should I broadcast HD 2967 seed or drill it?
Drill it. Line sowing behind a seed-cum-fertilizer drill places the seed at one depth and puts the fertiliser where the roots find it. Broadcasting needs a higher seed rate and still gives an uneven stand, so you pay twice.
Sourced from: ICAR-IARI Varieties Directory — HD 2967, Marker-Assisted Improvement of Bread Wheat Variety HD2967 for Leaf and Stripe Rust Resistance — Plants (MDPI), 2022, 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.