Abstract
To find out suitable genotypes as well as agronomic management practices to
obtain higher yield of chickpea in the drought prone ecosystems, four
experiments were carried out: two in the pot yard and laboratory of Bangladesh
Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur and two in the famer's field of
Rajshahi, Bangladesh during 2015 to 2019. The first experiment was set in a
Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with thirty chickpea genotypes and
four moisture regimes. Among the thirty chickpea genotypes BD-6048 and BD6045 were found the most drought tolerant. The second experiment was laid out
in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with these two most drought tolerant
genotypes along with two most susceptible genotypes and eleven moisture
regimes. All physiological, biochemical, yield and yield contributing characters
were found higher in the tolerant genotypes as compared to the susceptible
genotypes. The third experiment was conducted including the same genotypes
as in second experiment under eight management practices. Proline application
as foliar spray was the best management practice in respect to physiological and
biochemical alterations also producing the yield and yield attributes. The
highest grain yield (1.71 t ha-1) was found from inorganic amendments through
proline application as foliar spray (250 ppm at 50 DAS after sowing) in water
stress condition. This might be due to higher accumulation of proline under
stressed condition supplying energy for growth and thereby, helping plants to
tolerant stress. Proline accumulation in plant might have a scavenging function
and acts as an osmolyte. Considering the above findings, the final experiment
was set in the field during 2018-2019 with these four genotypes to improve
chickpea yield in drought prone environment through application of organic
and inorganic amendment. The highest chickpea yield (1.56 t ha-1) was found in
management practices of one post sowing irrigation and another at flowering
stage up to 50% depleted soil moisture followed by the application of inorganic
amendments through proline as foliar spray. Therefore, the present study
suggested that if irrigation facilities prevail then two irrigations one at post
sowing and another at flowering stage up to 50% depleted soil moisture
condition or in rainfed condition and application of inorganic amendments
through proline as foliar spray could be a good option for better yield of
chickpea especially genotype BD-6048 in the drought prone ecosystems.