Growth, Productivity and Economics of Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes in Response to Seed Rate in Northern India

Seed is a basic and costly input in agriculture. Genotypes of a crop varying in seed size and growth behaviour may differ in optimal seed rate for realizing high grain yields. Field experiments were conducted for three years at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India to study the growth, productivity and economics of kabuli chickpea genotypes in response to seeding rate. On the basis of three-year mean, seeding rate of 110 kg ha-1 provided the highest grain yield (1491 kg ha-1), followed by 130 kg ha-1 (1415 kg ha-1) and 90 kg ha-1 seed rate (1196 kg ha-1). Among genotypes, BG 1053, GLK 22117, GLK 24092 and GLK 25132 were high yielders. Higher grain yields were produced by BG 1053, GLK 22117, GLK 24092 and GLK 25132 with a seed rate of 110 kg ha-1, whereas GLK 23008 and GLK 23035 yielded higher at 130 kg ha-1 seed rate. A seed rate of 110 kg ha-1 provided with the highest gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio. Genotypes differed in days to 50% flowering (88-110 days) and days to maturity (136-163 days).