Salinity mediated changes in yield and nutritive value of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds

An experiment was conducted on eight genotypes of chickpea, varying in their salt tolerance level, to evaluate effect of salinity on yield related parameters and the quality of seeds produced. Lower salinity (4dSm⁻¹) did not affect the number of flowers and pods per plant except in the genotypes HC-1, CSG9505 and HC-5. Higher salinities reduced the number of flowers and pods; the reduction being maximum in CSG 9505 followed by Pusa 256, HC-5 and HC-1 while HC-3 and KC-1 showed minimum reduction. Salinity also affected number and weight of the seeds per plant adversely, irrespective of the tolerance status of the genotype; reduction being more in the sensitive genotypes than the tolerant ones. Salinity also decreased starch and protein content of the seeds; the genotype KC-1 and HC-3 (salt tolerant) evinced relatively less decrease over CSG 9505 and HC-5 (salt sensitive), thereby proving that salt tolerant genotypes are neither high yielder nor produce quality seeds when compared to the control.