Field evaluation of Desi and Kabuli chickpea genotypes under irrigated and rainfed conditions

Abstract

The present study was conducted during Rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17 on fourteen desi and kabuli chickpea genotypes under irrigated and rainfed conditions respectively. The morpho-physiological observations and water status (relative water content) were recorded at pod initiation stage to evaluate the channelization of photosynthates in terms of photosynthetic rate and ameliorate the effect of rainfed conditions regarding plant height, biomass accumulation and specific leaf weight. Water limited conditions at pod initiation stage enforced an overall negative trend in photosynthetic rate and relative water content but desi genotypes GL 29098 and ICC 4958 depicted drought tolerance by recording a decline of 3.61% and 3.46% respectively.