Chickpea varietal response to drainage on verstisol of Ginchi in the central highlands of Ethiopia.
2007
Getachew Agegnehu;Abraham Feyissa; Gemechu Keneni and Mussa Jarso(Researcher)
High moisture level limits production of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) on Vertisols, as the crop is sensitive to waterlogged conditions. The productivity of chickpea is constrained by poor drainage on Vertisols with high rainfall. A field experiment was conducted for three years (2003 _ 2005) to study the effect of drainage methods and varieties on yield and yield components of chickpea t Ginchi, Ethiopia. Three drainage methods studied were broadbeds and furrows (BBF),ridges and furrows (RF) and flat beds. These were arranged as main plots. Three chickpea varieties (Worku, Akaki and local landrace) were treated as sub-plots in a split-plot design with three replications. Results indicated that chickpea grain and straw yields, number of pods per plant and seeds per plant were significantly affected by drainage methods and varieties. The BBF and RF drainage methods increased mean grain yields of chickpea by 59 and 46%, respectively, compared to flat bed conditions. The BBF resulted in the highest grain yield followed by RF. Regarding varieties, Work and Akaki shoed g rain yield increments of 30 and 41%, respectively, compared to the local check. Grain yield increments of 183 and 65% were obtained in 2004 compared to the yield obtained in 2003 and 2005, respectively. Drainage by variety (D x V) interaction was significant for mean grain and straw yields of chickpea. The highest grain yield of 2223 kg ha-1 was recorded from Akaki on BBF drainage system. Grain yield was positively correlated with straw yield (r = 0.97), number of pods per plant (r = 0.71), shoot-to-root (r = 0.46) and harvest index (r = 0.36). In conclusion, both improved drainage and improved varieties were necessary to enhance the productivity of chickpea on dark heavy clay soils.
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