BNKR-1 (Dhiren) – A newly released late duration high-yielding rice variety an alternative to Swarna (MTU 7029) for West Bengal, India

Abstract

BNKR – I (Dhiren), a new late duration high yielding rice variety developed at Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal, India was released by “State Variety Release Committee” (SVRC), West Bengal in 2011 for cultivation in irrigated late areas of West Bengal, India. Before release as BNKR – I (Dhiren), this rice culture completed three years of national testing (2008-2010) in the designation of CN 1340-76-1-BNKR 23-7-1 (IET 20760) and had been recommended for release in irrigated areas of Bihar and West Bengal under transplanted condition in 46th National Group Meeting on Rice organized by Directorate of Rice Research (ICAR), Hyderabad, India during April 2011. It gave 7.65 to 12.12% yield advantage over national check in national level. Not only that this culture of rice tested extensively in the farm of Rice research Station, Bankura, West Bengal and farmer’s field. It showed 11.64% and 19.30% yield advantage during 2006 and 2007 in observational trial, 10.44 to 14.38% yield advantage in on station yield trial during 2008-2010 and 12.51 to 17.93% yield advantage in farmer’s field during 2009 and 2010 over Swarna (MTU 7029), which is the most popular rice variety of West Bengal. BNKR – I (Dhiren) is non-lodging, non-shattering and late maturing variety (seed to seed : 142 days). It is moderately resistant to leaf blast, neck blast, brown spot, sheath rot and leaf folder. It’s average yield is 5000 – 5500 kg ha^-1 . Grain type is short bold. It is expected that BNKR – I (Dhiren) can be able to replace Swarna (MTU 7029), the most popular rice variety of West Bengal, India.