Effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer levels on yield and yield components of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Mashhad climatic conditions

Abstract

In order to study the effects of different irrigation regimes and nitrogen fertilizer levels on yield and yield components of chickpea (ILC482), a field experiment involving chickpea genotype ILC482 was conducted as factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with four replications in the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during growing season of 2012-2013. Experimental treatments were including nitrogen fertilizer (as urea) at three levels: 30, 75, 150 kg N ha-1 and irrigation regimes at three levels: full irrigation, irrigation at flowering, irrigations at both flowering and podding. Studied traits were included seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, 1000- seed weight, seeds per pod, pods per plant. The results showed that the different irrigation regimes and nitrogen fertilizer levels had significant effect on seeds per pod, pods per plant, 1000- seed weight, seed weight per plant, seed yield, biological yield and harvest index. Interaction between irrigation and nitrogen was significant except for harvest index. In this study, the highest values of the traits (except for biological yield) were obtained under full irrigation along with 75 kg N ha-1. In addition, applying irrigation at flowering accompanied with 150 kg N ha-1 decreased yield and its components. Full irrigation plus 150 kg N ha-1 produced highest (8.9 t ha-1) biological yield, while grain yield was 1854 kg ha-1. Overall, full irrigation along with nutritive optimal levels, especially nitrogen at 30 and 75 kg ha-1 levels, during critical growth periods of chickpea could increase grain yield of chickpea.

Keywords

• biological yield
• critical period
• flowering
• harvest index
• moisture