NUTRIENT STATUS AND YIELD OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.) AS INFLUENCE BY APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT HARVEST TIMING AND SULPHUR FERTILISER

Abstract

The objectives ofthis research were to study the effect of harvesting time and sulphur levels on the yield, protein and mineral nutritional value of chickpea seeds. Three dif ferent harvesting times (early, on-time and late) and four sulphur levels (0,20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1) were used. Yield, protein ratio and mineral nutritional value of chickpea were significantly affected by sulphur and harvest timing. The highest grain yields according to the harvest time were obtained from on-time harvest with 1527 and 1434 kg ha 1 for the first and second years, respectively. The lowest grain yields were obtained from the control plots, whereas the highest values were obtained from the plots given 60 kg ha 1 sulphur. Generally, protein, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and manganese concentrations of the seeds in on-time harvest and 60 kg ha 1 sulphur aplication were found to be greater than in early and late harvested plants. Positive significant relationships were found between harvest time and protein (r = 0.64"), Fe (r = 0.75") and Zn (r = 0.27*). Positive significant relationships were found between sulphur doses and grain yield (r = 0.44*), protein (r = 0.26*), P (r = 0.71” ), K (r = 0.73**), Ca (r = 0.36**), Mg (r = 0.76*), Zn (r = 0.57) and S (r = 0.96*).