Effect of thermal regimes on phenology, biomass, yield and yield attribute of chickpea different varieties

The present investigation was conducted at research farm of Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during rabi season 2024. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replication and four sowing dates viz. D₁ (42^thSMW) D₂ (43^th SMW), D₃ (44^th SMW), D₄ (45^th SMW) and four varieties (V₁) BDNG-797, (V₂) Digvijay, (V₃) Phule Vikram and (V₄) Jaki-9218 sown. Observations were recorded on the crop phenology, crop characteristics like biomass. The effect of thermal stress on yield and yield attributes were observed.

The best sowing date of chickpea was observed during 43^nd SMW (22^th to 28^th October). Among the four varieties, Phule Vikram performed better throughout the crop growth phases and recorded higher yield. Dry matter accumulation of plant was maximum in second date of sowing (43^nd SMW) and there after the rate of biomass accumulation declined and minimum was recorded under D₄ (45^th SMW) sowing. The yield attributing characters like seed yield (kg ha^-1), straw yield (kg ha^-1), Biological yield (kg ha^-1), etc. found highest in D₂ sowing followed by D₁, D₃ and D₄. In case of varieties, Phule Vikram found superior over BDNG-797, Digvijay and Jaki-9219. High temperature stress during reproductive growth stages in chickpea crop reduces yield attributes.