Effects Of Different Tillage And Planting Methods On Soil Moisture And Seed Yield Of Chickpea In Dryland Conditions

In order to evaluate the effects of conventional, mechanized planting and direct drilling on soil moisture and grain yield of chickpea, this experiment was carried out in RCBD with 4 treatments and 4 replications at Maragheh Dryland Agricultural Research Institute. Field studies were conducted on a clay loam (fine mixed, mesic, veritc calcixerepts) soil on wheat stubble for 3 years (1995-1998). Results showed that there was significant difference in soil moisture content of treatments after planting and before harvesting times. Soil moisture content in direct drilling, after planting and before harvest were 34.75% and 16.25%, respectively. Direct drilling stored soil moisture better than other treatments. The results of combine analysis showed that there was a significant difference in yield in different treatments. Direct drilling and mechanized planting methods produced higher crop seed yield by 891 and 811 kgha-1 respectively. Conventional planting methods (broad casting and covering by diskharrow, broad casting and covering by mould board plow) had the lowest yields (627 and 555 kgha-1).