Effect of sowing dates and seed priming onagrometeorological indices and soil moisture regimes of chickpea in North Central Plateau zone NCPZ of Odisha

field experiment entitled “Effect of sowing dates and seed priming on agrometeorological indices and soil moisture regimes of Chickpea in NCPZ of Odisha” was conducted at RRTTS, Keonjhar, Odisha, during the Rabi season for two consecutive years i.e., 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The field experiment was laid out in factorial RBD design with three replications and two factors. There were 3 dates of sowing in Factor A (D₁-25 November, D₂-5 December, D₃-15 December) and 5 moisture conservation practices in Factor B (M₁ - Control, M₂ - Seed priming with water for 8 hours, M₃ - Osmopriming (Seed priming with CaCl₂ solution @0.5% for 8 hours), M₄-Straw mulch@ 5t/ha and M₅-Straw mulch@ 5t/ha +Seed priming with CaCl₂ solution @0.5% for 8 hours). Seed priming controls the hydration of seeds that helps in the pre germinative metabolic activity of the seeds. So even if the soil has less moisture that will not affect the uniform and proper germination of the seeds. All together there were 15 treatment combinations. The test crop variety taken was JAKI-9218. Among the three dates of sowing, D₂ (5^th Dec) sowing recorded the tallest plants (41.47 cm). but were recorded in D₁ (25 Nov) sowing. Early sowing on 25^th November recorded the maximum number of primary and secondary branches and required a greater number of days to 50% flowering (41.8 days) and days to physiological maturity (101.1 days).

Among the moisture conservation practices, M₅ (Straw mulch@ 5 t/ha+Seed priming with CaCl₂ solution @ 0.5% for 8 hours) recorded the tallest plants, maximum number of primary and secondary branches, maximum number of days taken to 50% flowering (40.7 days) and days taken to physiological maturity (100.1 days), maximum number of pods per plant (44) and number of seeds per pod (3.62), grain yield (1812 kg/ha) and straw yield (218 kg/ha). This treatment recorded the minimum consumptive use of water (203.5 mm) and rate of moisture use (1.36 mm/day) but the moisture use efficiency was maximum (12.34 kg/ha-mm). Treatment M₅ recorded the maximum growing degree days (2182°C day), heliothermal unit (15077°C day hrs), photothermal unit (22595°C day hrs) and heat use efficiency (0.94 kg/ha/°C) to reach maturity. Chickpea when combined with suitable date of sowing and moisture conservation practices for proper utilization of carry-over residual soil moisture in the rice fallows gives higher yield.