Why is my wheat crop not tillering properly?

Poor tillering in wheat usually comes from a few common causes. Late sowing leaves less time and cooler-then-warm weather that limits tiller production, so timely sowing is the biggest fix. A missed or delayed first irrigation at crown root initiation (about 21 days) badly cuts tillering, so never skip it. Low nitrogen at early growth, deep sowing beyond 5 to 6 cm, poor soil moisture, and zinc deficiency also reduce tillers. To improve tillering, ensure the crown root irrigation is on time, top dress nitrogen at first irrigation, sow at correct depth with a drill, and correct zinc if deficient. For an already late crop, a higher seed rate compensates for fewer tillers per plant.