Effects of different drought levels and planting date on yield and yield components of three chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars in Mashhad

In order to investigate the effects of different drought levels and planting dates on yield and yield components of chickpea, an expriment was conducted during 2003 growing season in Mashhad. Two planting dates including 9 January and 18 February, four drought levels including I1=no irrigation, I2= irrigation only at planting time, I3= irrigation at planting time and before flowering I4=irrigation at planting time, before flowering and podding and three Kabuli chickpea cultivars (Jam, Karaj 12-60-31 and ILC 482) were compared in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Drought levels and planting dates affected pod and grain numbers per square meter as well as 100 grain weight significantly. Three - time irrigation (I4) had maximum grain yield. Karaj 12-60-31 cultivar had the highest grain yield and ILC 482 cultivar had the lowest. Jam cultivar was the most tolerate to water stress conditions but Karaj 12-60-31 with three - time irrigation had the most grain yield.