Effect of different potash levels on the growth, yield and protein contents of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of varying levels of potash (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 kg K2O ha(-1)) on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar CM-2000 at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during the winter season 2003-2004. The growth and yield components were significantly increased by different potash levels. However, the differences between control and 25 kg KO ha(-1) were nonsignificant for the number of pods per plant and 1000-seed weight. The application of 25 kg K2O ha(-1) could not increase the seed and biological yield significantly thereafter, seed yield increased gradually with the increase in potash levels and the maximum seed yield (2341 kg ha(-1)) was obtained with 150 kg K2O ha(-1). The seed protein contents also increased gradually with an increase in potash level and maximum protein contents (23.87%) were recorded with application of 150 kg K2O ha(-1). The highest potash level resulted in maximum net benefit as well.