Sowing Dates and Varieties Mediated Changes in Growth and Phenology of Chickpea in Norther Telangana Zone

Abstract

Present field experiment was conducted during spring (November, 2022-May, 2023) at college farm, agricultural college Jagtial, Telangana to find optimum sowing window of chickpea and efficient varieties under different dates of sowing to northern Telangana zone. Chickpea, a cool season crop grown in India during spring, growth and phenology of the crop were highly affected by climatic conditions. Hence, optimum weather conditions at all growth stages were required by crop, which could be acquired by timely sowing. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with six dates of sowing (1stNovember to 15thJanuary at 15 days interval) in main plots and three varieties (JG-14, NBeG-3, NBeG-47) in sub plots replicated thrice. Results revealed that LAI (0.54,1.22,1.23,1.05) and CGR (0.31,1.80,11.05,0.94) of chickpea was highest with crop sown on 1st November at branching, flowering, pod formation and maturity stages respectively and lowest with 15th January sowing (LAI-0.25,0.98,1.05,0.92 and CGR-0.19,1.02,4.76,0.21). While among varieties NBeG-3 performed best with highest LAI and CGR at different stages compared to other varieties. Days to different phenophases i.e., days to branching initiation, first flower initiation, first pod initiation and physiological maturity was maximum with early sowing (1st November) and minimum with late sowing (15th January). Hence, early sown crop experienced favourable weather conditions and took higher number of days to maturity, while late sown crop was matured early due to unfavourable weather conditions declining crop overall biomass.