Assessment of changes in grain yield, its components and weed suppression capabilities of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in rainfed and supplementary irrigation conditions

This field experiment was done as split plot based on randomized complete blocks with three replications at Urmia University in 2013-14. Rainfed (I1) and supplemental irrigation (I2) arranged as main plots and different cropping patterns included T1=plots without chickpea with every 10-day regular-irrigated, T2=plot without chickpea, T3=chickpea planting with no empty rows with hand weeding, T4=chickpea planting with no empty rows and without weeding, T5=one row of chickpea and an empty row as alternate, T6, T7 andT8=two rows of chickpea and two, three and four empty rows, respectively, T9=three rows of chickpea and two empty row, T10=four rows of chickpea and two empty row as subplots. The results showed that chickpea with no empty rows (T4) and without weeding under rainfed conditions decreased 92.17, 92.18 and 90.33 percent dry matter of common cocklebur, common lambs quarters and wild radish, respectively, compared to the supplementary irrigation. In the plot without chickpea, supplemental irrigation increased 41 percent the total biomass of weed compared to the rainfed condition. Also, results demonstrated that the highest yield components of chickpea were observed under irrigation that led to increase 40 and 37 percent grain and biological yield as compared to rainfed conditions. In comparison of T3 and T4 treatments, results showed that the weeds competition with chickpea cause to decreasing 35.5 and 29.57% of chickpea grain and biological yield. Overall, with planting of chickpea by filling the ecological nest, in addition to the reduction of inputs, we can cause the weed control in irrigated farms and provided the agro-ecosystem sustainability.