Characterization of morpho-physiological, and yield parameters of chickpea genotypes under shallow basaltic soils

Abstract

Eight chickpea genotypes were evaluated in RBD with two replications to explore the phenological, growth, physiological, and yield-contributing traits to identify high-performing cultivars suitable for shallow basaltic soils. Notable variation was observed in phenological traits, with Phule-G-0616-20-3 exhibiting late flowering and maturity, while JG-14 demonstrated early flowering and maturity. Growth parameters revealed Phule-G-1415-15-15 as the tallest plant, and JG-14 exhibited the highest branching. Physiologically, JG-14 showed superior NDVI, relative water content, and moderate canopy temperature, indicating excellent water-use efficiency, while Phule-G-1424-4-2 demonstrated lower physiological indices. In terms of productivity, IPC-06-11 excelled with the highest pod count, seed yield, and harvest index, while JG-14 achieved the highest yield per plant and per hectare. This study underscores the potential of selecting resilient, high-yielding genotypes to enhance sustainable chickpea production, contribute to SDG-2 (zero hunger), and promote climate-smart agriculture in shallow basaltic soils.