Effect of seeding date and rate on desi chickpea in southern Alberta

Field trials were conducted at 12 location-years (sites) over a 4-yr period (2000-2003) to determine the response of desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to seeding date and rate in southern Alberta. Desi chickpea, cv. Myles, was planted on three dates at approximately 10-d intervals at target plant densities of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 plants m(-2). Seed yields were close to maximum it seeding dates ranging from late April till mid-May, but further delays in seeding resulted in modest yield declines at two sites during the drought years and large yield declines at two sites in the wet year. The economic optimum plant density for desi chickpea increased with moisture availability, from 26 to 79 plants m. Under typical conditions in southern Alberta, optimum yields of chickpea were obtained with seeding dates prior to May 15 and seeding rates of 30 to 40 plants m(-2).