Interactive Effects of sowing methods, Phosphorus Fertilization and Varieties on Chickpea (Cicer erietinum L.) Yields Growth in Vertisols

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in farming seasons 2020/2021 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 to investigate the effects of fertilization, varieties and sowing methods and their interactions on yield attributes of chickpea on vertisols in Tanzania. Three desi type chickpea varieties (Local check-1, Mwanza-1 and Ukiriguru-1), two fertilizer rates sources (50 and 60 kg P₂O₅ and control fertility) and three sowing methods (Spacing [30x10]cm, sowing behind plough and broadcasting) and their interactions were evaluated. Experiments were conducted in a factorial arrangement of three replicated randomized complete block design. The size of each plot was (3x3) m. At Tukey’s 95% confidence interval, results reveled that fertilization was significant at (p<0.001) on plant population at harvest, biological yield and grain yield while varieties were significant at (p<0.001) on number of seeds per pod and 500 seeds weight as well as at (p=0.002) on grain yield. 50 kg/ha of 60 kg P₂O₅ Kg/ha and 50 kg P₂O₅ kg/ha resulted to 1,255 kg/ha and 709 kg/ha with a least performance recorded on control fertility resulting to 616 kg/ha. On varieties, Ukiruguru-1 resulted to 1,040 kg/ha while Local variety and Mwanza-1 resulted to 735kg/ha and 804 kg/ha respectively. It was concluded that yield attributes of chickpea improved with seed varieties and fertilizer use whereby Ukiruguru-1 resulted to maximum yield per ha as well as 60 kg P₂O₅ Kg/ha resulted to maximum yield per ha. Therefore, Ukriguru-1 may be cultivated along with 60 kg P₂O₅ for maximum chickpea yield. Further studies are recommended for appropriate spacing.