The Rakhshan-10 (AZ-96) barley variety was first tested at AZRC, Quetta during 1986-87 in a nursery of 100 lines (IBON).
The higher yielding and disease resistant genotypes were advanced to preliminary/advanced yield trial-A1, B1, C1 and micro
plot trials. The line was tested in different regions of rainfed Balochistan in yield trials. The variety showed excellent drought
tolerance and produced higher number of tillers with bold grain. Rakhshan-10 (AZ-96) showed excellent results in NUBYT
trails conducted by National Coordinated Program Islamabad during 1997-2000. Rakhshan-10 produced the highest grain
yield in pooled analysis of NUBYT trial with 2nd position in rainfed and 1st in irrigated with grain yield of 2244 (-3%) and
3560 kg/ha (12%) during 1997-98, respectively. In year 1998-99 Rakhshan-10 toped in pooled analysis of NUBYT trial with
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st position in rainfed and 5th in irrigated with grain yield of 2430 (+27%) and 2553 (+2%) kg/ha, respectively. During 1999-
2000 cropping season it ranked 2nd both in rainfed and irrigated trials under NUBYT with 9% and 7% increase over local
check. It has excellent resistance against yellow rust and has 14.40 crude proteins which is an added advantage as feed for
livestock. It also has good capability to survive at low temperature (-10°C) and can be planted in February if farmers receive
late rainfall. In Balochistan only three barley genotypes were released (Soorab-96, Sanober-96 and Awaran-2002) which
were mostly winter types. Rakhshan-10 (AZ-96) is excellent for planting in both winter and spring and it can replace the
local barley (rust susceptible and low harvest index) and can produce higher grain yield in spring.
Jahangir Khan, Saifullah Khan, M. Islam, Sarfraz Ahmad, Amanuallah, Abdul Hanan, M. Anwar Khan, Saleem Shiekh. (2012) A New Barley Variety Rakhshan-10 (Az-96) For Balochistan, , Volume-49, Issue-2.