Low Phosphorus Tolerance of Chickpea Varieties in Acidic Soil

An experiment was conducted in the experimental farm department of Crop Botany, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbur Rahman Agricultural University in order to investigate low phosphorus tolerance of chickpea varieties in acidic soil, during 2005–2006. Twelve chickpea varieties were selected for field experiment under acidic soil (pH 4.8) condition with two phosphorus level, no phosphorus (P₀) and 20 kg P/ha (P₂₀). Data revealed that P content per g plant drymass and P accumulation was reduced variedly at P₀ and the reduction percentage was minimum in Binachola-3. At P₀, the P content g⁻¹ plant dry mass and P accumulation were maximum in Barichola3, Binachola-1 and Binachola-3. On the other hand, the apparent P fertilizer recovery was maximum in Barichola3 (20.25%) and Binachola-1 (20.77%) but the extent of reduction of P content at P₀ was minimum in Barichola3 and Binachola-3. Therefore, Binachola-3 and Barichola-3 possibly had the higher capability to uptake a larger amount of P from organic P of the acidic soil. The Phosphorus Uptake Efficiency (PUE) of only Barichola3 and Binachola-3 varieties was increased and maximum at P₀ among the varieties. There was a strong and positive relationship between PUE and seed yield of chickpea varieties. Results revealed that Barichola-3 and Binachola-3 were apparently found tolerant to low- P condition of acidic soil as measured by their higher PUE and smaller reduction in P uptake and accumulation at P₀ condition and eventually expressed through less affected field performance in seed size and seed yield.