Evaluation of growing properties, yield and component yield of three chickpea cultivar in waitng and spring sowing

In order to evaluate the effect of waiting sowing on yield and growing properties in three chickpea cultivars under rainfed condition, an experiment was conducted at split plot arrangement on basis of randomized complete block design at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, and Bu-Ali Sina University during growing seasons of 2011 and 2012. Sowing dates in four times, including 10 January, 10 February, 10 March and 9 April of both years were the levels of main plot, and three chickpea cultivar, including Hashem, Arman and Azad were subplot. Results showed that the effect of year on chickpea experimental properties was not significant, but the all of the evaluated traits were affected significantly by sowing dates, but the plants survival percentage. The highest rates of biological and grain yield (761.26 and 236.16 g m-2, respectively) was obtained at the first sowing date (10 January) and Hashem cultivar. Also, the lowest biological and grain yield (301.18 and 75.91 g m-2, respectively) was achieved at last sowing date (9 April) and Azad cultivar. The highest plat height, root length, number of branches per plant, 1000 seed weight and grain per plant was obtained at the first sowing date that these values were significantly more than the other sowing dates. As the results showed that cultivars had significant effects on grain and protein yield. Totally, by considering these findings, waiting sowing was highly beneficial in chickpea growing properties, yield and yield component.