EFFECT OF FERTILIZATION AND SEED SIZE ON NODULATION, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of seed size and fertilizer usage with seed at planting on agronomic parameters of chickpea as a winter crop. The experiment was conducted according to split-split plots of randomized blocks with four replications. As factorial two chickpea varieties (Arda and Diyar 95), two fertilizer applications (with and without fertilizer) and three seed sizes (large, medium and small) are discussed in this study. The results showed that fertilizer applications along with seed at planting and large seed increased significantly the number of seed per plant, number of pods, biological yield, grain yield and 100-grain weight. However, fertilizer applications with large seeds had a negative effect on the output of the seeds and reduced grain yield per unit. In general, plants germinating from large seed had higher number of pods and number of seeds plant-1, 100 seed weight, biological and seed yield plant-1, while plants germinated from medium seed had higher emergence percentage, first pod hight, nodule fresh weight plant-1 and grain yield ha-1. These effects tend to decrease in chickpea varieties having medium-grain weight as Arda. It was concluded that, application of fertilizer along with seed during the sowing time results in decreased emergence percentage of the seeds and lower the yield in chickpea.