Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) has developed a short-duration, high-yielding fine Aus rice variety named ‘GAU Dhan 4’, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s agricultural research.
The variety was developed through nearly a decade of research led by agronomists M Moynul Haque and Md Moshiul Islam from the Department of Agronomy, according to a press release.
With the release of GAU Dhan 4, the total number of crop varieties developed by the university has reached 95, including four rice varieties.
Aus rice in Bangladesh typically produces lower yields compared to Aman and Boro seasons. However, GAU Dhan 4 stands out due to its short maturity period and higher productivity, enabling farmers to harvest earlier and potentially cultivate three to four crops annually on the same land.
The variety is expected to benefit farmers in monga-prone northern regions. Its lower water requirement also makes it suitable for Aus cultivation across most parts of the country.
The development process involved systematic breeding, where researchers crossed the Aus variety Parija with BU Dhan 2. After years of selection and testing, this resulted in the promising line GAU-9974-52-7-2.
The line underwent adaptability and multi-location trials across Bangladesh from 2022 to 2024 under the Bangladesh Seed Certification Agency. It was officially approved as ‘GAU Dhan 4’ by the National Seed Board at its 115th meeting on 5 February 2026.
Nutritionally, the rice contains approximately 24.58% amylose, which supports efficient carbohydrate digestion and sustained energy supply, along with about 8.38% protein, essential for human growth and tissue repair. The grains are long and slender, and the variety matures within 90–100 days after sowing.
GAU Dhan 4 has a thousand-grain weight of around 20 grams and can yield approximately 5–5.5 tonnes per hectare under favorable conditions. Farmers require only 25–30 kg of seed per hectare, making it cost-effective.
The variety also demonstrates improved tolerance to common diseases and delivers 10–15% higher yields compared to conventional varieties.
It performs best in sandy loam to clay loam soils. For optimal results, seedbed sowing is recommended in the first week of April, followed by transplanting after 20–22 days, maintaining a spacing of 20 cm × 15 cm.
Md Moshiul Islam, one of the lead developers, said the goal was to create a short-duration, high-yielding Aus rice variety with fine grains preferred in the market. He expressed hope that it will increase farmers’ income and strengthen national food security.
GAU Vice-Chancellor GKM Mustafizur Rahman congratulated the research team, stating that the development reflects the dedication and expertise of the university’s scientists. He also expressed optimism that the new variety will create opportunities for farmers and contribute significantly to enhancing agricultural productivity in Bangladesh.
