Cotton-wheat and rice-wheat are the two most important
cropping patterns followed in irrigated plains of Pakistan
extending from the Peshawar Valley to the Indus Valley of the
Punjab and Sindh provinces. More than 70% area is occupied
by wheat crop in Rabi season in both the cropping patterns.
Late maturity of basmati varieties of rice and delayed picking
of cotton results in delayed sowing of wheat up to late
December (Nayyar & Iqbal, 2001). From last week of October
to mid of November is the optimum time for wheat sowing to
attain its full potential. Any delay in sowing after mid
November results in yield reduction by 50 kg ha-1 per day
(Khan, 2004). This yield reduction is primarily due to low
plant population that resulted due to poor and erratic
germination because of low temperature prevailing at that
time. Due to photosensitive nature of crop, late planted wheat
has to accomplish its all growth and developmental stages in
lesser time as starch accumulation is terminated at same
specific time and not depending on time of sowing (Khan et
al., 2010). Fast and homogeneous mixture provides both
economical and environmental benefits in agriculture because
it allows higher degree of automation, easier weed control,
reduction of disease pressure in the field and aids to upcoming
precision farm technologies.
Improved seed invigoration techniques are being used to