Effect of Planting Date and Plant Density on Grain Yield, Yield Components and Some Quality and Morphological Traits of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

In order to evaluate effect of planting date and plant density on grain yield, yield components and some quality and morphological traits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an experiment was conducted at the research center of agricultural and natural resources of west Azerbaijan in Urmia rain-fed research farm during 2005-2006 growing season in a split plot arrangement, based on a completely randomized block design with four replications. The cultivar of chickpea (Qazvin local mass) was planted in three sowing dates (mid November, mid March and mid April) in main plots, and four plant densities (intra row space: 7.5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) representing (45, 34, 23 and 17 plant/m2) in sub plots. Yield, number of pod per plant, seed protein content, plant height, number of secondary branches and 100 seed weight were evaluated. Results indicated that date of sowing had a significant effect on the yield, number of pod per plant and seed protein content but was not significant for plant height, secondary branches and 100 seed weight. Highest number of pod per plant was obtained in mid November sowing (37.69) and high protein content (22.63) in mid March. Different plant density effects were also not significant on yield, plant height, secondary branches and 100 seed weight but the effect of density on the number of pod per plant and seed protein content was significant. Highest number of pod per plant was obtained in the third density (31.5), and highest protein content in the first density (22.31). The results of study indicated that between mid March planting in the density (45 plant/m2) had highest yield (1042.08kg/ha) and protein content compared with the other planting dates.