Effect of different sowing dates on yield and some physiological traits of three chickpea cultivars (Cicer arietinum L.)

To investigate the effect of planting date on yield and some physiological traits of three cultivars of chickpeas, a field experiment split plot experiment arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the experiment station of University of Jiroft in 2018-2019 growing season. Sowing date at five levels (October 13th and 27th, November 12th and 27th and December 10th) were the main plots and Adel, Azad, and Arman chickpeas cultivars were sub plots. The results showed that planting date had significant effects on plant height, main branches, sub branches, pods per plant and  grains per pod numbers, 100 grains weight, grain (and biomass yields (kg ha-1), a, b and total chlorophylls, carotenoids, leaf leaf phenol and total protein and anthocyanin. Interaction effect of planting date × cultivar was significant in the studied traits except number of grains per pod. Means comparisons showed that the Arman cultivar had the highest  grain and biological yields (1019 and 2833 kg.ha-1, respectively), at the first planting date (13 October) and Adel cultivar had the lowest grain and biomass yields (413 and 1260 kg. ha-1, respectively), at the last cultivation (12 December). According to the results, it seems the best date for planting chickpeas in the study area is October 13 and the most suitable cultivar is Arman.