| A field experiment for two seasons was conducted on maize cv. Buhooth-106 in 2009. This was on the Field Crops Res. Sta. of the College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad to determine the influence of skip irrigation and planting depths; 6, 12, and 18 cm in growth and yield of maize. Irrigation treatments were, skip irrigation, furrow and row plantings irrigated weekly and two weeks. Data of spring and fall plantings were similar in response to irrigation treatments and planting depths. Results of fall planting showed that skip irrigation and furrow planting irrigated weekly gave plant growth rate (CGR) 12.6 and 15.8 g/m2/d, grain yield 5.9 and 7.6 t/ha, respectively. These two treatments were given 3600 and 6600 m3water/ha. However, furrow and row plantings irrigated every two weeks, gave CGR 10.8 and 10.0 g/m2/d, grain yield 4.8 and 4.5 t/ha, respectively. Planting depths of 6, 12, and 18 cm gave CGR 12.4, 13.3, and 13.1 g/m2/d, grain yield 5.8, 6.1, and 5.9 t/ha, respectively. Skip irrigation with 18 cm deep, gave CGR 13.6 g/m2/d, grain yield 6.2 t/ha. Whereas, highest grain yields (8.2&8.4 t/ha) were obtained from furrow planting irrigated weekly with 12 and 18 cm deep, in spring and fall, respectively. According to these results, skip irrigation gave grain yield 77% of that obtained from furrow planting irrigated weekly. This implies that skip irrigation saved less than 50% of irrigation water. It was recommended to use skip irrigation for maize production and planting 12 cm deep in areas of water shortage. Planting 18 cm deep could be tested in future on soils of sandy texture. |