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EFFECT OF DIFFERENT POTASH LEVELS ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND PROTEIN CONTENTS OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

ASGHAR ALI, M. ATHER NADEEM, ASIF TANVEER M. TAHIR AND MUMTAZ HUSSAIN^*

Abstract: A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of varying levels of potash (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 kg K₂O ha^-1) on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar CM-2000 at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during the winter season 2003-2004. The growth and yield components were significantly increased by different potash levels. However, the differences between control and 25 kg K₂O ha^-1 were non-significant for the number of pods per plant and 1000-seed weight.  The application of 25 kg K₂O ha^-1 could not increase the seed and biological yield significantly thereafter, seed yield increased gradually with the increase in potash levels and the maximum seed yield (2341 kg ha^-1) was obtained with 150 kg K₂O ha^-1. The seed protein contents also increased gradually with an increase in potash level and maximum protein contents (23.87%) were recorded with application of 150 kg K₂O ha^-1.  The highest potash level resulted in maximum net benefit as well.

Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

^*Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.