Evaluation of yield potential and agronomic traits of new wheat varieties under agro- ecological conditions of Bannu Division (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Abstract

The performance of a total ten new varieties of wheat was tested in two seasons, Rabi 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Agricultural Research Station Serai Naurang (Bannu).  Varieties Gulzar-2019, Pirsabak-2019, Zarghoon-2021, Abaseen-2021, Pirsabak-2021, Taskeen-2022, Naurang-2023, Khyber-2023, Thanda-2023 and PS-2023 were studied during this investigation. During Rabi season 2022-23, Gulzar-2019, PS-2019, Zarghoon-2021, Abaseen-2021, PS-2021 and Naurang-2023 were tested while for 2023-24 Zarghoon-2021, Taskeen-2022, Naurang-2023, PS-2023, Khyber-2023 and Thanda-2023 were tested. Varieties Zarghoon-2021 and Naurang-2023 were checked for both seasons; therefore, the average values of these two varieties were taken for different traits. The study was focused on days to heading, days to maturity, plant height (cm), length of spike (cm), grains per spike, 1000 grain weight (gram), grain yield (kg ha^-1), biological yield (kg ha^-1) and harvest index percentage. Variety PS-2019 acquired maximum yield (7013 kg ha^-1) with significant 1000 grain weight (50.00 gram). Naurang-2023 also got significant 1000 grain weight (50.00 gram) and significant grains/spike (72 grains). PS-2019 took maximum days (123) to heading. Similarly, PS-2019 and PS-2021 took maximum days to maturity (170 days). The maximum height (117.00 cm) was achieved by Abaseen-2021. The lengthiest spike (13.42 cm) was noted in Thanda-2023. The highest harvest Index (38.71 %) was recorded for PS-2021. The Variety PS-2023 produced the highest (19667 kilograms/hectare) biological yield. These varieties will help to solve the food security problem, raise the living standard of the farmers’ community and help wheat breeders to develop cultivars with higher yield potential and better quality in future through breeding programs

Keywords: Potential; Varieties; Wheat

http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2025.140024