YIELD PERFORMANCE OF CHICKPEA CULTIVARS AS INFLUENCED BY SOWING TIME AND SEED RATE

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during rabi 2012-13 and 2013-14 at Hisar to study the yield response of four chickpea cultivars (H09-23, H08-18, C-235 and HC-1) two dates of sowing (1st fortnight of November and December) and three seed rates (40, 50 and 60 kg ha-1) at Pulse Research Area of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The results indicated that chickpea sown on 1st fortnight of November produced better yield attributes (except100 grain weight) and yield in both the years. Number of pods per plant was recorded highest in cultivar H09-23 in 2012-13 and in cultivar H08-18 in 2013-14. Cultivar H09-23 and H08-18 produced significantly higher grain yield than other cultivars. Seed rates at 40 kg ha-1 produced 12.5% and 18.19 % higher number of pod per plant than with 60 kg ha-1 seed rate in both the year. Highest stover yield was recorded with seed rate of 60 kg ha-1 in 2012-13 and with 50 kg ha-1 seed rate in 2013-14. Grain yield of chickpea cultivars were significantly higher with 50 kg ha-1 seed rate in 2012-13 and with 40 kg ha-1 seed rate in 2013-14.