Chickpea Varieties and Time of Sowing Effects on Growth and Yield under North-East Monsoon Influenced in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: In Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India where North-East monsoon is predominant. During this season, chickpea crop sown during October to November 1st fortnight (FN) causing total crop loss due to high intensity rains in the changing climate scenario. In this context, there is a need for identification of suitable varieties of chickpea with ideal time of sowing for Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district under changing climatic situations to enhance the yields of chickpea. Methods: Field experiment was carried out during rabi 2019-20 at Agricultural Research Station, Podalakur (14°22°N latitude, 79°44°E longitude and 43 m above mean sea-level), Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district andhra Pradesh to identify the suitable chickpea variety and optimum time of sowing. The field experiment was laid out in Split plot design with 4 varieties of chickpea (V1: Nandyala gram-49, V2: Dheera, V3: Nandyala Senaga-1 and V4: JG-11) as main plot treatments and 3 time of sowings (D1: November 2nd FN, D2: December 1st FN, D3: December 2nd FN) as sub plot treatments in three replications. Result: Nandyala Senaga-1 and Dheera have taken more number days to 50% flowering and maturity. Crop sown on November 2nd FN took significantly more days (42.8) to bear 50% flowering and maturity, while the lowest number of days per 50% flowering and maturity was taken by December 2nd FN sown crop. Chickpea variety Nandyala Gram-49 recorded the highest grain yield (1491 kg ha-1), which was statistically on par with Nandyal Senaga-1 (1465 kg ha-1). The crop sown on November 2nd FN recorded significantly the highest grain yield (1462 kg ha-1), but which was statistically on par with December 1st FN (1424 kg ha-1) sown crop.