Effect of Irrigation on Chickpea Varieties Sown on Different Dates on Irrigated Fields of Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

In the study area (Lakki Marwat) there is a lot of scope of growing irrigated chickpea because the farming community is growing this crop for centuries due to very huge demand in the region. This study was conducted to examine the impact of irrigation on chickpea yield, to select a variety/ varieties best suited for irrigated farming in irrigated region and to standardize the production technology package of irrigated chickpea. The experiment was conducted at ARS, Serai Nauarang, Lakki Marwat, in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Irrigations (No irrigation, pre-sowing irrigation and irrigation at flowering stage) were allotted to the main plots while varieties (Karak-1, Karak-2, Sheenghar and KC-98) and sowing dates (Oct. 1^st, Oct. 15, Nov, 1, and Nov, 15) were kept in the sub plots. The sub plot size was 4 m by 1.8 m with row to row distance of 30 cm and plant to plant distance of 10 cm. Plant height and pods plant^-1, biological and grain yields were significantly affected by different varieties and sowing dates at Lakki Marwat. The effect of irrigation was significant on plant height and branches plant^-1 at Lakki. Pre-sowing irrigation resulted in taller plants as compared to no irrigation and irrigation at flowering at Lakki. Delay in plating consistently decreased plant height at Lakki. Chickpea variety Karak-I attained long stature plants at Lakki, while short stature plants were noted for KC-98 variety. Delay in planting resulted decline in number of pods plant^-1. Karak-I produced higher number of pods plant^-1, whereas variety KC-98 resulted in lower number of pods plant^-1 at Lakki. Similarly delaying plating from 1^st October to 15^th November, biological yield of chickpea also decreased at Lakki. Variety Karak-I was higher in biological yield at Lakki.  Grain yield considerably decreased with delay in planting Lakki. At Lakki, chickpea variety Karak-I resulted in higher yield, followed by Karak-II while, KC-98 produced lower grain yield. It is concluded from the above experiments that planting dates significantly affected grain yield and its components and higher grain yield was produced in early planting (1^st October) and decline with delay in planting at Lakki. Chickpea cultivar Karak-I produced higher grain yield followed by Karak-II and proved to be higher yielding cultivars than Sheenghar and KC-98.

Keywords: Irrigation regimes, Chickpea, Varieties, Irrigated fields