PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT WHEAT VARIETIES/LINES AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT PLANTING DATES AND SEEDING RATES UNDER HIGH RAINFALL AREA OF POTOHAR

Use of suitable variety, optimum planting time and seed rate play an important role in getting the maximum yield of wheat crop. The study was conducted to find out the most suitable wheat variety, optimum planting time and economically suitable seed rate under the rain fed conditions of Potohar region during 2004- 2005 to 2005 - 2006 at NARC, Islamabad. Wheat varieties/line tested were NR-234 (advance line), Wafaq-2001, Margalla-99 and G.A 2002 were sown during mid of November and mid of December, using the four different seed rates i.e. 80, 100, 120 and 140 Kg ha^-1. The lay out design used was RCBD split-split arrangement with three replications having 25 cm row spacing. All other agronomic, cultural and plant protection measures were kept at par. Various parameters including number of plants m^-2, plant height, spike length, spikelets spike^–1, number of tillers m^–2, 1000 - grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index were studied. Due to the better yield components maximum grain yield (3.23 t ha^-1) was recorded in the crop planted during the mid of November as compared with the crop planted during the mid of December having grain yield of 2.31 t ha^-1. Significant differences in grain yields were also recorded due to the different wheat varieties/line but no differences in grain yields were recorded due to the different seed rates.