Effect of application of barley residue and zeolite on seed yield and water productivity of two chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars under rainfed and supplement irrigation conditions in Khoramabad, Iran

Water is an important limiting factor for agriculture production in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Different crop management strategies included tolerant cultivars, supplement irrigation, plant residues and superabsorbent are necessary to be considered for saving water and improving water productivity. To investigate the effect of combination of barley residue and zeolite on seed yield and water productivity of chickpea cultivars under rainfed and supplement irrigation conditions, a field experiment was conducted in two years (2016 and 2017) as split-plot factorial arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications in Islamic Azad University University of Khorramabad, Iran. The main plots consisted of three irrigation applications: rainfed condition (I1), irrigation at flowering stage (I2), and irrigation at flowering and pod formation stages (I3). Combination of barley residue and zeolite (5 t.ha-1 barley residue + 5 t.ha-1 zeolite, 5 t.ha-1 barley residue + 2.5 t.ha-1zeolite, 5 t.ha-1 barley residue, and no barley residue and zeolite (control) and two chickpea cultivars (cv. Adel and cv. Azad) were randomized in sub plots. Results indicated that the highest seed yield (2543 kg.ha-1), water productivity (0.954 kg.m-3), 100-seed weight (37.3 g), and plant height (38 cm) observed in 5 t.ha-1 barley residue + 2.5 t.ha-1 zeolite + irrigation at flowering and pod formation stages, for cv. Adel. The results revealed using of Adel cultivar, supplement irrigation and combination of barley residue and zeolite could be a suitable crop management package for increasing seed yield and improving water productivity of chickpea under climatic condition of Khorramabad, Iran.