Response of Chickpea to Tillage Practices in Continuous Rotation with Wheat Under Spate Irrigation in Arid Environment

Abstract

In Pakistan wheat and chickpea constitute are the most important cropping system. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different tillage practices on soil physical properties and water use efficiency. The experiments were conducted in spate irrigation service area in clay soil condition with the using of different tillage implements. In this study, the plot size used was 8 m x 40 m and replicated four times under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Wheat and chickpea were sown during October and November and harvested in April-May and moisture content, bulk density, soil strength and germination were evaluated. The chickpea grain yields during the study period ranged from 2143 to 2348 kg ha^-1. Mean maximum grain (2348 kg ha^-1), biomass yields (3866 kg ha^-1) and water use efficiency (9.05 kg ha^-1 mm^-1) were obtained with the using of tillage treatment Disc plow once and tine type cultivator three times (DPTC3). While the minimum grain and biomass yield were recorded for Moldboard plow once and Tine Type Cultivator three times (MBTC3) of 2143 kg ha^-1 and 3057 kg ha^-1, respectively. It can be concluded that disk plow may be more effective for better chickpea production in clay type of soil as compared to moldboard plow or tine type of cultivator in spate irrigated area arid environment.