Effects of various irrigation strategies applied through drip system on winter and spring planted chickpea yield and water use efficiency

In this study, the effects of various irrigation strategies applied with drip system and different planting dates on vegatative growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L), yield components and water use efficiency were determined under the Mediterranean climatic conditions.The experiment was carried out during 2010 growing season at the Hacıali Station of the Çukurova Agricultural Research Institute using Inci variety. The treatments included full (FI), mild deficit irrigation (DI-75), partial rootzone drying (PRD-50), severe deficit irrigation (DI-25), and non-irrigated (DRY) for winter and spring planting times. Although the irrigation treatments did not have any significant effect on grain yield for both winter and spring planted chickpea, planting dates had significant effect on yield at 0.01 level of significance. The greatest grain yields of 440 and 285 kg/da was observed, respectively, for winter and spring planted chickpeas. The highest water use efficiency was found in the dry treatments of both winter and spring plantings. The greatest water use efficiency was determined as 0.924 kg/m3 for winter planted and 1.030 kg/m3 for spring planted chickpeas. The yield response factor (ky) was determined as 1.06, when the relationship between the relative yield reduction and relative evapotranpiration deficit was examined. This results shows that chickpea is relatively sensitive crop to water stress.