Variable Irrigation Phasing and Establishment Techniques in Chickpea (Cicer areitinum L. ) under Sprinkler and Flood Irrigation System in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand

Chickpea is a water sensitive crop, hence requires judicious water management to harness reasonable productivity from this crop. Therefore, a study was conducted in sandy loam soil to find out the effect of irrigation schedules, establishment methods and irrigation methods on yield, water saving, IWP and energy use efficiency of chickpea in sandy loam soil at GBPUAT, Uttarakhand from 2016-17 to 2018-19. The experiment consisted of three irrigation schedules (irrigation at branching, pod development and at both stages), two establishment methods (flat and raised bed) and two irrigation methods (flood and sprinkler irrigation) . Irrigation at both branching and pod development stages produced the highest chickpea grain yield. One irrigation at either stage saved 50% of irrigation water compared to irrigation at both stages. Raised bed and sprinkler irrigation method saved 18.8 and 29.5%irrigation water, respectively. Raised bed method and sprinkler irrigation method showed their superiority over flat bed and flood irrigation, respectively for irrigation and economic water productivity. Energy use efficiency of irrigation scheduled at either stage of crop growth was higher than irrigation at both stages but at the expense of yield. Raised bed method and sprinkler irrigation method were most energy efficient.