Effect of Saline Irrigation Water on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.)Varieties

A pot experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Junagadh to assess the effect of saline irrigation water on growth and yield of chickpea varieties during winter season of 2016-17.There were four levels of salinity viz., <2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 dS m-1 and five varieties namely GG-1, GJG 3, GG 5, GJG 6 and Dahod Yellow. The highest plant height (33.56 cm), no. of branches plant-1 (7.18), no. of pod plant-1 (31.31) and no. of seed pods-1 (1.47), root shoot ratio (0.57) and seed yield (12.28 g plant-1) and stalk yield (20.55 g plant-1) were observed with variety GJG 6. Application of saline irrigation water having EC <2.0 dS m-1 was superior than other treatments for seed yield (15.29 g plant-1), stalk yield (20.50 g plant-1), plant height (39.04 cm), no. of branches plant-1 (7.92), no.of pod plant-1 (38.74) and no. of seed pod-1 (1.52). Interaction effect of varieties and salinity levels had larger influence on plant height, no. of pod plant-1,seed yield and stalk yield in variety GJG 6 irrigated with irrigation water having EC <2 dS m-1 barring plant height.