Study on effect of sowing date and plant density on grain yield and yield components of improved chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Kabuli type var. Arman

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of different levels of sowing dates and plant density on grain yield and its components in chickpea var. Arman, a field study was conducted at Ekbatan Research Field Station of Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Hamedan province under rainfed condition during 2009-2010 cropping season. Treatments were arranged as split plot on the basis of randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plots were date of sowing in three levels including Entezari (16 December), spring planting (7 March) and late spring planting (4 April) and the sub-plots were plant densities (20, 30 and 40 plants/m2). Results showed that pod number per plant, 100-seed weight and grain yield were affected by sowing dates, significantly. The results also showed significant differences for pod number per plant, grain yield and harvest index in different plant densities. The interaction of sowing date×plant density was significant (p< 0.01) only for seed yield. Finally, the highest and the lowest seed yield was achieved in Entezari planting with 30 plants/m2 and late spring planting with 40 plants/m2.

Keywords

• chickpea
• plant density
• seed yield
• sowing date
• yield components