Concentrations and uptake of macro and micronutrients by chickpea compared to pea, barley and oat in Central Europe

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) could be a promising new crop in Central Europe for contributing to agro-system diversification and reducing the substantial deficit of vegetable protein sources in the European Union. A two-year field experiment was conducted in eastern Austria to assess concentrations and uptake of macro (Ca, K, Mg, P) and micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn) of chickpea as compared to pea, barley and oat to gain information for a possible introduction of chickpea to Central European agro-system with regard to its contribution to human and livestock nutrition and its nutrient demand. Chickpea grain had higher concentrations of all analysed nutrients (except of Mn) than cereal grains. In year with average climatic conditions, chickpea had a lower grain nutrient uptake of Mg and P than pea, barley and oat but a similar one to barley and oat for K, Cu and Zn as higher grain concentrations of chickpea could compensate its lower grain yield. Whereas, chickpea could outperform the other crops in a year with drought conditions regarding the uptake of macronutrients Ca, K, Mg and P and micronutrient Cu due to both a similar grain yield with the other crops and higher grain concentrations of these elements as compared to barley and oat. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2015.12.02, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2015.12.02

Keywords

• Chickpea
• Cicer arietinum
• macronutrients
• micronutrients
• nutrient uptake