Effect of cultural practices and edaphic environment on chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri

The effect of different cultural practices and edaphic environment were tested against chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri during two crop seasons. Six sowing dates started from 4^th October to 8^th November at weekly intervals showed that the disease incidence gradually decreased and crop yield gradually increased with postponing the sowing dates. Minimum disease incidence (19.1–20.5%) and highest crop yield 10.4–11.7 q/ha) were recorded in the 1^st and 8^th November sowing dates in both the crop seasons. The lowest mean disease incidence of 15.8 per cent was found when the seed was deep sown (15 cm). The incorporation of one row of linseed as intercrop with two rows of chickpea significantly reduced the wilt incidence with significant increase in crop yield during both the crop seasons. Initial population of pathogen in the field was 2.75 X 10 ³ cfu/g soil before crop sowing. At the time of harvesting of chickpea, it increased to 3.65 X 10 ³ cfu/g soil in the sole chickpea, while in intercrops, it was 2.65 X 10 ³ cfu/g soil in linseed, 3.05 X 10 ³ cfu/g soil in mustard and 3.15 X 10 ³ cfu/g soil in wheat. The maximum wilt incidence (11.3 – 18.8%) was recorded when the average soil temperature ranged from 25 – 29.4ºC and soil moisture from 28.4 – 56.5 per cent MHC in the month of October and second fortnight of March to first fortnight of April.