Drought stress is a major constraint to crop production and yield stability in many regions of the world. In the state of Goiás, most of the rice crop system is rainfed. In a plant breeding program, new genotypes are selected as a result of their adaptability for a determined environment. Therefore, a plant breeding program needs information about drought frequency as well as its characteristics, intensity, and time during crop development. A crop simulation model was used to determine patterns of drought stress for 12 locations and six different planting dates for short and medium cycle rice. For upland rice, short and medium cycle, in favourable conditions (no soil impediment), drought stress is not a main constraint for the rice development in the state of Goiás.
Crop model; Oryza sativa; savannah; upland rice
