International Research of Plant and Crop Journal sciences Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-004, October, 2013.© Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research Paper

Effect of phosphorus fertilizer on yield and yield components of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) at Kelemeda, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Seid Hussena ¹*, Fikrte Yirga², Fetlework Tibebu³

¹Wollo University, Department of plant Sciences, Dessie, P. O. Box 1145, Ethiopia

^{2, 3} Graduate Students, Wollo University, Department of Plant Sciences,  Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Accepted 8 October, 2013

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of varying levels of phosphorus (T₁₌ 0kg/ha, T₂₌ 30kg/ha, T₃₌ 60kg /ha, T₄=90kg/ha and T_{5 =}120kg/ha) on growth performance and yield of chickpea (Cicer –arietinum) variety Aratiy at the experimental field of Wollo University, Kelemmeda, during winter season in 2013. The results revealed that phosphorus levels significantly affected plant height, number of branches per plant and number of pods per plant. The maximum plant height (39.25cm) was recorded from plots that received 60kg P ₂O ₅ ha ^-1, while the minimum plant height (32.5cm) was recorded from the control. Similarly, higher number of branches per plant was recorded from the same treatment. The maximum number of pods per plant (49) was observed from the application of 60kg P ₂O ₅ ha ^-1. Generally the results revealed that the application of 60kg P₂O₅ ha ^-1 gave better performance in all the parameters studied. However, this research was conducted using irrigation, in one location and one season. Thus, it should be replicated in multi locations and seasons so as to assure the results of the experiment.

Key words: Experiment, chickpea, phosphorus, pods per plant, Aratiy.