The Effect of Super Absorbent Application on Yield and Yield Components of Rain-fed Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes under Supplemental Irrigation Conditions

In order to study the responses of chickpea genotypes and super absorbent application under supplemental irrigation condition, an experiment was conducted base on split-split- plot randomized complete block design with four replications during 2014-2015 in the Agricultural Research Station of Sarab Changaei, Khorramabad. Suplimental irrigation (rainfed, suplimental irrigation at 50% flowering and supplemental irrigation at 50% flowering+ 50% poding) in the main plots, super absorbent polymer in subplot and cultivars (Arman, Azad, Hashem, Adel and ILC482) the sub-subplots were located. The highest grain yield and protein yield were obtained in supplementary irrigation in two stages (50% flowering + 50% poding) with super absorbent application, by avrege of 3890 and 870 kg.ha-1, respectively, which were 24% and 21% higher than control, respectively. The highest leaf greenness (39.22), pods per plant (22.1), seed weight (52.4) and biological yield (5413.5) were related to two-stage irrigation. The highest number of pods per plant (27.7) was observed in Hashem cultivar and superabsorbent application, which was 34% more than non- super absorbent in same cultivar. Results of genotype× super absorbent showed that the highest grain yield (4159 kg.ha-1), grain nitrogen percentage (3.69) and protein yield (960 kg.ha-1) were obtained under super absorbent and Adel cultivar conditions. Based on the results, application of supera bsorbent increased grain yield and protein yield of chickpea genotype in rain-fed conditions. By improving physiological traits, associated with drought tolerance, the use of supplemental irrigation method in areas that make this possible, especially if combined with the application of super absorbent polymers, can increase seed yield in chickpea.