Exploring the Possibility of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Growing as Second Crop under Uşak Ecology

Tends on human nutrition change every day but legumes act significant role for nutrition over the World. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a member of Leguminosae family and originated from Asia. Chickpea is rich with protein, carbohydrate, lipid and minerals. It is also sufficient for Daily requirement by view of the essential amino acids – lysine, leucine and arginine. Chickpea is also source of soluble and insoluble fibers. The nutritional fibers have favorable effects on decreasing the time of food passing through intestine, accelerating of weight loss, decreasing of total and LDL cholesterol and balancing of blood sugar level. Sustainability of agriculture is essential for sustainability of life. From this perspective, chickpea is quite important due to various agronomic advantages that may be summarized by main ones are; able to grow as winter crop, lower water requirement, wide adaptation ability to climate and soil, a good alternative for crop rotation systems in addition to health care features. Present research is realized to evaluation of second crop growing facilities in Uşak/Turkey ecology by using 4 chickpea genotypes (Azkan, Hisar, Sarı-98, Yaşa-05) by 4 sowing time (18th June, 02nd July, 16th July, 30th July) by 3 replications. The following measurements were realized; days to emergence, days to flowering, days to harvest, height of plant, number of pod per plant, number of seed per pod, height of first pod, seed yield and weight of hundred seeds. According to the results Yaşa-05 chickpea genotype was determined as the most adaptable in addition to the Azkan chickpea genotype was also obtained as promising to growing as second crop. Deep and long term studies are needed to achievement of more consistent results and providing to sustainability of food security, improvement of soil, better usage of natural sources and contribute to national economy.