Effect of Different Sowing Dates on Growth and Grain Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars under Agro-environment of Taluka Dokri Sindh, Pakistan

Aim: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of different sowing dates on growth and grain yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars.
Study Design: A randomized complete block design (RCBD) in split plot arrangement was used.
Place and Duration of Study: Pulses Section, Rice Research Institute, Dokri, Sindh, Pakistan during Rabi season of 2012-13.
Methodology: Five sowing dates [Sl = 15th October 2012, S2 = 30th October 2012, S3 = 15th November 2012, S4 = 30th November 2012 and S5 = 15th December 2012] in main plots and four cultivars [Vl = DG-92, V2 = Chhola, V3 = DG-89 and V4 = Sanyasi] in sub-plot.
Results: Sowing dates had significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) on days to 50 % flowering, plant height, branches and pods per plant and 1000-seed weight while cultivars had on days to 50 % flowering and 1000-seed weight. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were observed among sowing dates and chickpea cultivars interaction for days to 90 % maturity and grain yield. The maximum days to 90 % maturity were observed for cultivar Sanyasi (169 days) when sown on 15th October while minimum for cultivar DG-92 (122 days) when sown on 15th December. Grain yield was maximized for DG-92 (3.3 Mg ha-1) at sowing date of 15th November.
Conclusion: It is concluded that under agro-climatic conditions of Taluka Dokri, District Larkana, Province Sindh, Pakistan, cultivar DG-92 performed the best when sown on first fortnight of November.