**4.2 Bed planted wheat**

In this method of wheat crop establishment, which is synonymous to furrow irrigated raised bed (FIRB), the land is cultivated traditionally and ridges/raised beds and furrows are prepared by using a raised bed planting machine where seeds are planted in rows and irrigation water is applied in furrows. In rice-wheat cropping system, raised beds are newly prepared for wheat and then in the next season rice is grown on the same bed under zero tillage with required repairing of the beds [50]. The most beneficial aspect of this method as mentioned in case of rice is the border effect imparted to maximum number of plants. Bed planted wheat also showed better performance with significantly highest number of tillers per running meter compared to others establishment methods viz. broadcasting and criss cross sowing, in the middle gangetic plain regions during both the experimental years [51]. Mollah *et al*. [50] reported a yield increase of 21% and water saving of 41–46% with a 70 cm wide bed with two rows over conventional method in wheat. However,


#### **Table 3.**

*A study showing influence of sowing methods on grain and straw yield of wheat.*

the requirement of labour for bed preparation and favorable soil texture are some constraints in the adoption of this method.
