Effect of fertilizer use with different seed sizes on nodulation, yield and yield components of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

To determine the effects of fertilizer use with different seed sizes at planting on nodulation, yield of yield components of chickpea. A field experiments were conducted at the GAP International Agricultural Research and Training Center, Diyarbakýr, Turkey, during 2011–12 and 2012–13. The trial was laid out in split-split plot design arrangement keeping variety in main plots, fertilizer application (unfertilized and fertilized) in sub plots and seed size (small, medium and large) in sub-sub plots with four replications. The effect ofseed size, fertilizer levels and the effects of their interaction on emergence percentage, number of pod and seed plant⁻¹, nodule fresh weight plant⁻¹, biological and seed yield plant¹ were significant. It was observed that plants originating from large seed had highernumber of pods and seeds plant¹, 100 seed weight, biological and seed yield plant⁻¹, while plants originating from medium seed had higher emergence percentage, first pod height, nodule fresh weight plant⁻¹ and grain yield ha⁻¹. Fertilizer use along with seed at planting caused decrease in (seed) emergence percentage and loss of yield in chickpea.