SWATAI 2014: A NEW HIGH YIELDING RICE VARIETY FOR HILLY AREAS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Trials were conducted on newly developed variety “Swatai 2014”to evaluate its agronomic features, economic value, disease and insect resistance at various locations in comparison to JP5 and various other rice lines. The data on phonological traits, yield related parameters and paddy yield showed superiority of “Swatai 2014” over JP5 and other rice lines in comparison. “Swatai 2014” achieved maximum plant height of 110 cm, maximum of 110 days to maturity and boosted maximum paddy yield of 8.89 tons per hectare in the trials compared to JP5 and other rice lines. Moreover, infestation of rice stem borer on “Swatai 2014” was much lower than the cultivated variety JP5. Newly developed variety was tolerant to bacterial leaf blight, stem rot and blast diseases. The new variety proved to be more profitable to the farming community of the area in terms of economic comparison with JP5. “Swatai 2014” found to be far more superior to JP5 in agronomic, insect pest resistance and economic comparison.