Growth, Yield and Its Attributes of Durum Wheat as Affected by Sowing Dates and Seeding Rates under Libyan Conditions

A field experiment was carried out during 2020/ 2021 winter season in a private farm at Al-Maamorah district, El-Ghafara, Tripoli, Libya to evaluate four planting dates (1st and mid November and 1st and mid December) and four seeding rates (80, 100, 120 and 140 kg ha-1) on growth, grain yield, yield attributes and grain protein content of Sidi Almsry durum wheat variety. Randomized complete block design in split plot arrangement in three replications was used, where the four sowing dates were randomly allocated in the main plots and the four seeding rates were randomly distributed within each main plot. Obtained results indicated that planting the studied variety at mid November produced the tallest plants, highest LAI, number of tillers and spikes m-2, number of grains spike-1, grain yield, H.I. and heaviest 1000-grain weight. However, 140 kg seeds ha-1 produced the tallest plants, highest LAI, number of tillers and spikes m-2, lodging percentage and grain protein content. Meanwhile, planting Sidi Almsry variety at mid November with 100 kg seeds ha-1 produced maximum grain yield, H.I and 1000-grain weight, while 140 kg seeds ha-1 at mid November produced the tallest plants and highest LAI, number of tillers and spikes m-2. The highest grain protein content resulted from sowing at mid December with 140 kg seeds ha-1.