EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER PLACEMENT ON EMERGENCE AND EARLY GROWTH OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Fertilizer in close proximity to seed can hamper emergence and early growth of seedlings. This study investigates whether phosphorus fertilizer placement with or close to seed affects emergence and early growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and its relationship to soil texture. In pot culture studies with sandy soil, emergence and early growth were suppressed when triple superphosphate (TSP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) were in contact with seed or banded 2cm directly below the seed; the effect of DAP was more detrimental than that of TSP. Placement of TSP at 5 cm directly below the seed did not hamper emergence in sandy soil although it still had a mild suppressive effect on early growth of chickpea. In clay soil, the recommended rate of TSP (100 kg TSP or 20 kg P ha- ) had little or no effect on emergence and negligible effect on subsequent seedling growth. In fields with clay loam soil, placement of the recommended rate of TSP with chickpea seeds in rows by a minimum-till planter was also found safe. In conclusion, the effect of phosphorus fertilizer placement in close proximity to chickpea seed was soil texture specific: in sandy soil the placement had deleterious effect on emergence and early growth while in clay soil there was little or no effect.