Effects of irrigation regime and plant density on some yield and ecological and physiological indications of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L)

In order to investigate the effects of irrigation regime and plant density on agronomic and some physiological traits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a split-plot layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications conducted at the research field of University of Tehtan (Karaj- Iran) in 2015-2016. The irrigation regime included eight levels (A1 =full irrigation at all growth stages, A2 = irrigation to grain filling and then cut, A3 = irrigation to podding and then cut, A4 = irrigation to flowering and then cut, A5 = low irrigation or 50% of full irrigation at all growth stages, A6 = 50% of full irrigation to grain filling and then cut, A7 = 50% of full irrigation to podding and then cut, A8 = 50% of full irrigation to flowering and then cut) and plant density at three levels (30, 40 and 50 plants.m-1) were considered as the main and subplots factor, respectively. The results showed that total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a, b, leaf area index, leaf relative water content, light use efficiency and seed yield were declined under water deficit but the light extinction coefficient and water use efficiency increased. The highest seed yield (2068 kg/ha) obtained from 40 plants.m-2. Also, under the low irrigation conditions, by applying 50% irrigation in all stages of chickpea growth the optimum yield can be produced.