EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.) UNDER NON- IRRIGATED CONDITION

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted in the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh during rabi season (from October 2018 to March 2019) to study the effect of drought on morpho-physiological traits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and treatment comprised of seven chickpea varieties evaluated on drought situation under non-irrigated conditions. The collected data were statistically analyzed for evaluation of the treatment effect. BARI Chola-9 (V4) produced the highest plant height, BARI Chola-3 (V1) produced the highest number of branches, Binasola-4 (V7) produced the highest number of pods (32.20) per plant, highest number of filled pods and BARI Chola-3 (V1) produced highest number of unfilled pods. BARI Chola-4 (V2) produced the highest (14.60 g) 100-seed weight which was statistically similar with BARI Chola-10 (V5) and BARI Chola-9 (V4). Binasola-4 (V7) produced the highest (334.33 kg ha -1 ) seed yield which was statistically similar with BARI Chola-7(V3). The highest root length and the highest shoot length were observed from the genotype BARI Chola-3 (V1) respectively 17.01 cm and 61.79 cm. The highest plant fresh weight can be observed from the genotype BARI Chola-9 (V4) 3116.67 kg ha -1 and the highest plant dry weight BARI Chola-9 (V4) 317.1 k ha . Binasola-4 (V7) produced the highest (2523.1 kg ha -1 ) biological yield and Binasola-3 (V6) produced the highest (91%) harvest index. The highest (49.50%) and the lowest (44.16%) SPAD value of leaf produced respectively from BARI Chola-10 (V5) and Binasola-4 (V7) at 60 DAP. BARI Chola-4 (V2) produced the highest (55.37%) membrane stability at 80 DAP while Binasola-4 (V7) produced the lowest (48.88%). BARI Chola-3 (V1) produced the highest (375.67 mmol m -2 s -1 ) and stomatal conductance at 80 DAP while Binasola-4 (V7) produced the lowest (169.90 mmol m-2s-1). BARI chola-3 (V1) was considered as drought tolerant varieties as they perform better to drought situation under non-irrigated condition.