COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF SOME NEW WHEAT CULTIVARS IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF DERA GHAZI KHAN

An experiment was conducted to evaluate yield potential of some newly introduced wheat varieties i.e Shafaq-2006 (V1); AS-2002 (V2); Ufaq-2002 (V3) and Bhakkar-2002 (V4) in different locations (L1: mouza Rakh Chabbri Zareen, L2: mouza Notak and L3: mouza Kotla Shafi) of agro-ecological zone of Dera Ghazi Khan during the rabi season 2007-08. The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements keeping different locations in main plot effect and wheat varieties in sub plot with three blocks in a net plot size of 7.5 × 18 m. The results revealed that among all three locations, maximum number of tillers m -2 (356.16), 1000-grain weight (38.72 g) was recorded at mouza Rakh Chabbri Zareen. Similarly, the highest number of grains spike -1 (39.58) and grain yield (48.80 q ha -1 ) was recorded at mouza Notak. Whereas the highest germination count m -2 (134.58) was recorded at mouza Kotla Shafi. As for as the performance of different wheat varieties is concerned, Shafaq-2006 exhibited the highest germination count -2 (131.55) and number of grains spike -1 (39.11). While Bhakkar-2002 exhibited the highest number of tillers m -2 (370.11), 1000-grain weight (40.38 g) and grain yield (39.58 q ha -1 ). The interactive effects of different locations and varieties were highly significant. Maximum grain yield (51.42 q ha -1 ) was obtained from wheat variety Bhakkar-2002, which is statistically at par with grain yield (50.14 q ha -1 ) of Shafaq-2006 at mouza Notak and performed better in clay loam soils.