Water use efficiency and yield of chickpea genotypes as influenced by soil moisture availability

Six chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) genotypes were evaluated under soil moisture stress for morphophysiological characteristics conferring resistance to drought. The increased moisture stress reduced the maturity duration by 15 and 19 days under mild and severe stress, respectively over irrigated control. The shorter maturity duration resulted in reduced reproductive phase duration. The water use efficiency was higher under irrigated control as compared to both the stress conditions. The plant water status reduced significantly at full bloom stage (110 DAS) under moisture stress. The moisture stress significantly reduced the plant height, number of effective pods per plant, 100 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield and harvest index over irrigated control. The longer maturity duration (r=0.93) has significant positive association with seed yield. The plant water status parameters have significant positive associations with seed yield. Among the yield attributes, pod density has highest significant positive association (r=0.89) with seed yield followed by 100 seed weight (r = 0.78). The genotypes, ICCV 10, BG 364 and C 214 have relatively higher plant water status and maintained their canopy cooler at full bloom and yielded highest as compared to other tested genotypes.