Physiological studies in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under quantified moisture levels

The experiments were conducted in pots to study the pattern of physiological processess like photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen fixation, water potential, growth and yield at 80% (control), 50% and 30% of soil saturation level in chickpea. At 50% of soil saturation no significant decrease in water potential of leaf, root and nodule and photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogenase activity was observed over control at flowering stage. However, these parameters showed a sharp decrease with increase in age of the plant from flowering to grain filling. Reduction was observed in dry weight of leaf, stem, root, nodules and leaf area both at 50% and 30% of soil saturation levels and in the two sampling stages, except in dry weight of roots and nodules which showed enhancement over control at flowering under 50% level, which subsequently declined at grain filling stage. The reduction in growth parameters were also reflected in number of pods, dry weight of pods and grain yield, but significant decrease was found only at 30% of soil saturation.