Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 17: 941 - 947. Published May 8, 2009.
Effect of sowing date and row spacing on yield and yield components of chickpea under rain fed conditions in Iran
Shamsi K
Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch - Iran
Department of Agronomy, P.O. Box 67155-1774; Baghe nai Street, Kermanshah, Iran
Corresponding author email: shams2_k@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the impacts of sowing date and row spacing on yield and yield components of chickpea veriety Hashem.
Methodology and results: A field experiment was conducted in 2005 at Kermanshah, Iran. The sowing date was assessed at three levels (6th November, 23rd November and 6th December) and the row spacing at three levels (20, 30 and 40cm). The layout was a complete randomized block design in factorial arrangement. Results showed that there are significant differences between the planting date and planting density effects on plant height, number of branches per plant, distance between 1st pod to soil, number of pods per plant, number of grains per plant, biological yield and grain yield. The maximum grain yield belonged to plants sown on 6th November at a row spacing of 30 cm. However, the maximum number of pods per plant and grains per plant belonged to plants spaced at 40 cm row spacing. Increasing planting density resulted in decreased yield components but increased plant number compensated for the decrease in yield components. Planting on 6th December resulted in higher distance of pod from soil surface and thus enabled easier mechanized harvesting.
Conclusion and application of results: Overall, the result showed that maximum yield of grain was observed with planting date of November 6th at a row spacing of 20 cm. However, for mechanized harvesting, planting around November 6 would be best as it had the maximum distance of first pod from the soil surface.
Key words:Chickpea,sowing date, row spacing, grain yield, yield components
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