Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer Levels on Growth and Root Character of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Varieties in West Showa Zone, Ejersa Lafo, Ethiopia

Abstract

Chickpea is one of the most important staple pulse crops in Ethiopia. However, its growth is constrained by a number of problems out of which fertilizer rates and varieties are the most important ones. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in 2016 cropping season to determine the effect of phosphorus fertilizer levels on growth and root character of chickpea varieties at Ejersa Lafo district, central Ethiopia. Treatments consisted of four chickpea varieties (Dalota, Teketay, Natoli and Local check) and four phosphorus rates (0, 23, 46 and 69 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that main effect of both phosphorus rates and varieties were highly significant (P<0.001) on plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, root length and number of pods per plant. Significantly higher number of primary branches plant-¹ (5.37) was obtained from Teketay variety, higher root (14.33) and number of nodules plan-1(62.48) were obtained from Natoli variety and higher plant height (51.02) and number of secondary branches plant-¹(14.58) were obtained from local variety with application of 46 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1.Therefor, application of phosphorus at the rate of 46kg P₂O₅ ha-¹ was recommended for higher growth and root character of chickpea at study area.

Keywords: Chickpea, Phosphorus levels, Growth and Root character

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-13-04

Publication date:July 31^st 2020