Investigation the effect of sowing depth and types of mulch on partitioning and remobilization of assimilates in dry land chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

In order to investigate the effect of types of mulch and sowing depth on partitioning and remobilization of assimilates in chickpea ILC481 cultivar, this experiment was carried out as split plot based on randomized complete block designs with three replications at research farm of Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University of Kermanshah in 2011-2012 cropping year. Main plot were mulch treatments including control treatment, corn stubble mulch, wheat stubble mulch, farmyard manure mulch, soil mulch (using sweep) and supplementary irrigation (one irrigation in order to investigate the effect of types of mulch as well as comparison to the ideal conditions) and sub plot was planting depth (4, 8 and 12 cm). The results of experiment showed that there was significant difference between different sowing depth and mulch treatments regarding to amount of grain yield and number of grain per square meter at main stem. Grain yield at main stem of wheat stubble mulch, soil mulch, corn stubble, farmyard manure and supplementary irrigation increased 43, 24, 23, 22 and 218 percent compared to the control (without mulch), respectively. There was significant difference between different sowing depths regarding to the portion of stem remobilization in yield and the efficiency of stem in the dry matter transition to the grain. The portion of stem efficiency at dry matter transition to the grain in 4, 8 and 12 cm sowing depth was 11.38, 8.2 and 5.11 percent, respectively. In general, the efficiency of remobilization assimilates of stem to grain and the role of remobilization in yield reduced by increasing the sowing depth and using the mulching treatments.