Harvest index in late sown chickpea: effect of physio-chemical traits in developing grains

Twenty six chickpea genotypes, differing in physiological and phenological characteristics, were taken in a late sown field trial to study the effects of various physio-chemical traits in developing pods/grains on harvest index (HI). Through correlation and direct and indirect effect, it was concluded that sugar content in grain has maximum positive contribution on HI followed by grain DM. Contribution of grian and pod wall RGR and seed filling period were negligible for HI. Effect of carbon; nitrogen ratio on HI were negative during early and late pod development stages. However, C: N ratio had considerable amount of positive effect on grain DM at various stages.