‘Chenab‐70’ cultivar of semi‐dwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown under improved management conditions with several levels of N, P and irrigations. An incomplete factorial design included N levels of 0, 56, 112, 168, and 224 kg/ha and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 irrigations. Each irrigation consisted of 7.6 cm applied water. Irrigations were optimally sequenced with crop growth stages as indicated by prior research in India and Pakistan. The resulting quadratic production functions indicate that yield levels now obtained by the best farmers can be obtained with one‐third to one‐half of the water currently being applied if irrigations are timed and controlled appropriately. Fertilizer response also exceeded that obtained by progressive farmers. Economically optimum application rates for water and N were rather restrictive with little opportunity for substitution. Finally, soil moisture measurements coupled with concurrent physiological and morphological observations are used to rationalize the persistence of indigenous cultural practices and to suggest new cultural practices to further enhance irrigation efficiency.