EFFECT OF PLANTING DATES ON BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT INCIDENCE AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF RICE CULTIVARS IN DIFFERENT LOCATION OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

This paper presents studies on effect of planting dates on Bacterial leaf blight of rice during 2007 and 2008 at Swat and Mansehra Districts. Interaction of sowing dates x varieties indicated that both Fakhre Malakand and Basmati-385, showed a similar trend of high BLB in both years. Dilrosh-97 and Swat^-1 resulted in increased BLB till 15th June and any further delay did not change disease incidence. Tillers plant^-1 was reduced for all varieties at Mingora i.e. Dilrosh-97, Fakhre Malakand, JP-5 and Basmati-385 showed decreased tillers plant^-1 when sowing was delayed at both locations and years. Sites, sowing dates and varieties, significantly influenced 1000 grain weight (g) at all locations. Mean value for this trait was greater at Bafa along with a Maximum grains panicle^-1 during both years. Variety Fakhre Malakand produced heavier grains than all other varieties. Sowing dates x verities interaction indicated that 1000 grain weight was enhanced till 15th June in each variety tested but further delay in sowing resulted in decline in 1000 grain weight of all varieties at both location and years. Long panicles (cm) were observed at Bafa as compared to Mingora. Panicle length was drastically decreased when sowing was delayed for almost all tested varieties except JP-5 and Swat-1 during both years. Site, sowing dates and varieties significantly affected the grain yield. Mean values for rice verities showed that high grain yield was achieved for Fakhre Malakand, whereas, both Swat^-1 and JP-5 resulted in lowest grain yield during both years and locations. In case of sowing dates, higher grain yield was recorded when planting was done on 15th June.