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6979369 
Journal Article 
Growth and yield of two chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) varieties in Canterbury, New Zealand 
Mckenzie, BA; Hill, GD 
1995 
1 
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science
ISSN: 0114-0671 
SIR PUBLISHING 
WELLINGTON 
23 
4 
467-474 
WOS:A1995TQ82500015 
Growth and yield of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) was examined over two growing seasons (1990-91 and 1991-92) in Canterbury, New Zealand. The 1990-91 season was very suitable for chickpea growth and the seed yield was high at 345 g/m(2). The 1991-92 season was less suitable and seed yield was lower at only 187 g/m(2). In both growing seasons the application of nitrogen (N) fertiliser increased seed yields, with 50 kg N/ha giving a 17% increase in 1990-91 and 100 kg N/ha giving a 43% yield increase in 1991-92. Inoculation with Rhizobium had no effect on yield. There was no benefit from increasing plant population, even though higher plant populations intercepted more solar radiation. This was primarily because of a reduced number of pods/plant at the higher plant populations. Response to sowing date suggests that spring sowings will be the highest yielding. Crops sown in winter yielded up to 700 g dry matter (DM)/m(2), but harvest index (HI) was low at only 0.25. The spring sowing produced 210 g seed/m(2), from only 410 g of DM/m(2) giving a HI of 0.51. 
radiation interception; population; density; sowing date; nitrogen; 'Kabuli'; 'desi'