Growth and Grain Yield of Rice Varieties (Oryza sativa L.) affected by Planting Dates in Baghdad

The field experiment was conducted in the south of Baghdad at Al-Wahda Research Station/ Agricultural Research Office, during the summer seasons of 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the effect of different sowing dates on the growth, yield, and yield components of the direct sown of four varieties of rice, using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split- plot arrangement with three replicates. Sowing dates (1st May 15th May 1st June 15th June 1st July, and 15th July) occupied the main plots, while the varieties (Amber33, Al Baraka, Furat1, and Yasmine) occupied the sub-plots. The results showed that direct seeded rice sown on 15th June proved to be the best, by obtaining a maximum grain yield (4.419 and 5.227 tons. h-1), 1000 grains weight, No. grains. panicle-1, No. Panicle. m2, fertility, panicle length, flag leaf area, and H.I., Amber33 variety in the first season and Furat1 in the second season achieved the highest average grain yield. So, we can recommend planting the varieties Amber33, Al Baraka, Furat1, and Yasmine on 15th June. It is possible to delay the planting of Amber33 variety until July for areas south of Baghdad.