Effect of Phosphorus Levels on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer aretinum l.) Varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2011-12 to investigate the effect of different phosphorus levels on the growth and seed yield of chickpea at Pulses Research Station, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam. Two chickpea varieties (V1=D.G-92 and V2=D.G-89) were evaluated against and six phosphorus levels (F1=36-00 kg, F2=36-15 kg ha-1, F3=36-25 kg ha-1, F4=36-35 kg ha-1, F5=36-45 kg ha-1 and F6=36-55 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a three replicated Randomized Complete Block Design (Factorial). Having plot size 5x3m = 15m2. The results revealed that the germination and all other growth and yield traits of chickpea were significant at (P<0.05) and positively influenced by increasing phosphorus levels; and chickpea varieties also responded differently to phosphorus levels. On the basis of seed yield ha-1, the phosphorus application at the rate of 55 kg ha-1 ranked first with 72.98 % germination, taking 75.50 days to flowering, 44.50 pods plant-1, 49.33 seeds plant-1, 1.38 cm pod length, 415.80 g seed index and 1691.21 kg ha-1 seed yield. Phosphorus level of 45 kg, 35 kg, 25 kg and 15 kg ha-1 categorically ranked 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in almost all the studied traits.  However, least performance was resulted by the crop receiving no phosphorus (control). In case of varieties, D.G-92 showed its superiority with 72.43 % germination, took 71.30 days to flowering, resulting 42.88 pods plant-1, 47.66 seeds plant-1, 1.31 cm pod length, 407.93 g seed index and 1564.15 kg ha-1 seed yield. On the other hand variety D.G-89 resulted in 70.25 % germination, took 72.50 days to flowering, resulting 39.16 pods plant-1, 43.44 seeds plant-1, 1.25 cm pod length, 363.06 g seed index and 1269.80 kg ha-1 seed yield. It was concluded that the growth and seed yield of chickpea varieties consecutively improved with increasing phosphorus levels; and highest phosphorus level of 55 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum seed yield ha-1; while chickpea variety DG-92 showed its superiority over D.G-89 for all the growth and yield traits. Hence, variety D.G-92 may preferably be cultivated and alongwith recommended N (36 kg ha-1), phosphorus may be applied at the rate of 55 kg ha-1 for maximizing the chickpea yields.

Keywords: Chickpea, Phosphorus Levels, Growth And Yield