Author (s): F. Ahmed1*, M.N. Islam2, M. A. Jahan3, M.T. Rahman4 and M.Z.Ali5
*Corresponding author, Email: faruque_sso@yahoo.com
*Corresponding author, Email: faruque_sso@yahoo.com
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the research field of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur during rabi seasons of 2008-09 and 2009-10 to evaluate phenology, growth and yield of chickpea (var. BARI Chola-5) in prevailing weather conditions at six sowing dates (November 10, November 20, November 30, December 10, December 20 and December 30). Mainly day lengths and temperatures influenced chickpea phenology, growth and yield. November 10 sown chickpea flowered at 73 and 70 days after sowing (DAS) when day lengths were 10.92 and 10.87 hours in 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively. November 20 sown chickpea flowered at 71 DAS when day length was 11.05 hours over the years. But December 30 sown crop flowered at 57 DAS with 11.60 hours and 59 DAS with 11.63 hours day length, respectively in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Late sown (beyond November 20) crops received comparatively higher temperatures (20 to 26 oC) at their reproductive stages making it shorter (38-41 days) than those of the early sown (54-62 days) which received lower temperatures (16 to 25 oC). Weather factors especially day length and temperature favored vegetative, flowering and pod development stages of November 20 sown chickpea and ultimately this sowing date gave the highest grain yield over the years (1848 and 1873 kg ha-1). But increased day length coupled with higher temperature at flowering and pod development stages of December 30 sown crops enhanced maturity and gave the lowest grain yield in both the years (1077 and 1154 kg ha-1). Due to these weather variations, sowing beyond November 20, grain yield was reduced by 9 to 38%.
