The effects of drought stress and potassium application on yield and yield components of chickpea in Miyaneh region, Iran

The effects of drought stress and potassium application on yield and yield components of chickpea were studied in Northwest of Miyaneh city. The experiment was carried out as factorial based on a randomized complete block design. The experimental factors were irrigation at four levels (0, 50, 75, and 100% of chickpea plant water requirement) and potassium sulfate fertilizer application at two levels (0 and 100 kg.ha-1). The recorded characteristics were number of lateral branches, days to ripening, pod numbers per plant, biomass, thousand kernel weight, yield and harvest index. Irrigation treatments had significantly different effects on potassium fertilizer use efficiency. The highest fertilizer use efficiency was observed at 75 and 100% plant water requirement levels. The number of lateral branches, number of pods per plant, biomass, yield and harvest index were decreased by irrigation levels decrement. The most pod number per plant, grain yield and harvest index were obtained in 100% water consumption along with potassium fertilizer application. The lowest values of the mentioned characteristics were observed in non-irrigated and no potassium application. The yield and biomass in fertilizer application and 100% irrigation were 69.12 and 33.11% more than non potassium and non-irrigation treatments, respectively. The application of potassium slightly compensated the negative effect of drought stress on yield.