Comparison of Growth Performance and Yield Potential of Selected RiceVarieties in Garasballey District, Somalia

Abstract

Rice production is increasingly important for ensuring food security in Somalia, yet local rice cultivation is constrained by low-yielding traditional varieties, limited agronomic research, and challenging growing conditions. This study compared the growth performance and yield potential of three rice varieties, R22, R24, and the local landrace Shondhay, under irrigated conditions in Garasballey District, Benadir region, Somalia. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used, and key growth parameters, including plant height at 25, 50, 75, and 100 days after sowing and number of tillers per plant, together with yield components including panicle length, grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot, total grain yield per hectare, and 1000-grain weight, were evaluated using analysis of variance and least significant difference tests at the 5 percent significance level. R22 outperformed the other varieties across most measured parameters, recording the tallest early plant height and the highest tiller number (16.93 per plant), both significantly greater than in the local landrace, together with significantly longer panicles (23.08 cm) and higher grain yield per plant (125.73 g) than both other varieties, culminating in an estimated yield of 7,544 kg per hectare compared with 5,496 kg per hectare for R24 and 5,160 kg per hectare for the local landrace Shondhay. No significant varietal differences were found in 75- and 100-day plant height or 1000-grain weight. These results indicate that R22 offers a substantial yield advantage over both an alternative improved variety and the local landrace under Somalia's irrigated semi-arid conditions, and they support its wider promotion to reduce Somalia's dependence on imported rice and strengthen national food security.