Effect of planting date and genotype on intercepted radiation and radiation use efficiency in chickpea crop (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Two field experiments, to assess the effect of planting date on canopy cover, intercepted radiation (IR), and radiation use efficiency of grain yield (εg) and biomass production (εb) of five chickpea genotypes, were conducted in 2014 & 2015 in NE South Africa. Planting date (1, 14 and 28 May being early, control/normal, and late planting, respectively, based on farmers’ practices) was allocated the main plots and chickpea genotypes (Range 1, Range 3, Range 4, Range 5 and ICCV99010) the sub-plots. Experiment I was well-watered (close to field capacity) throughout the season. Experiment II was watered three times (at planting, flowering and pod formation). The response of εg to planting date varied with genotype in experiment II but was greater in early (1.06 g MJ−1 PAR) compared with control (0.96 g MJ−1 PAR) and late (0.90 g MJ−1PAR) sowing. εb varied with genotype in experiment I and was subjected to interaction between sowing date and genotype in experiment II. Range 4 and 5 had greater εg (0.97 g MJ−1 PAR) compared to ICCV9901 (0.90 g MJ−1 PAR) and Range 1 & 3 (0.84 g MJ−1 PAR) in experiment I. The study results clearly recommend planting chickpea on the 1st of May in this environment so as to improve radiation capture and its utilization and to increase grain yield.

Keywords

• canopy cover
• chickpea genotypes
• intercepted radiation
• kabuli
• early and late maturing cultivars