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Abstract This study was conducted to study the response of chickpea to some surrounding environmental factors (sowing dates, plant distribution patterns and plant densities). For such purpose, two field trials were conducted at the Agric. Exp. Sta., Fac. of Agric., Cairo University, Giza, Egypt in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 growing seasons. Experiment-I: This experiment was carried out to study the effect of four sowing dates (Oct. 20, Nov.10, Nov.30 and Dec.20) and three plant distribution patterns for the density, 40 plants/m2 on growth and yield of three chickpea varieties (Giza 1, Giza 195 and Giza 531). Plants were sown in ridges spaced 50 cm and arranged in three patterns, i.e., two plants,10 cm apart on one side of ridge (D1); one plant, 10 cm apart on both sides of ridge (D2) and two plants, 20 cm apart on both sides of ridge (D3).The most important results could be summarized as follow: 1- Effect of sowing date : Seed yield/faddan, number of full pods and seeds/plant, seed yield/plant, harvest index and heat use efficiency of November, 10 sowing were higher than those of October, 20 ; November, 30 and December, 20 sowings. Straw yield, stand loss %, plant height, main and secondary branches/plant (no.), empty pods % and plant dry weight were the highest with earlier sowing (October, 20). 2- Effect of plant distribution pattern: Planting one plant, 10 cm apart on both sides of ridge surpassed the other distributions in number of seeds/plant and seed yields. 3-Effect of variety: Giza 195 and Giza 531 varieties yielded the highest seed yield/faddan. A significant interaction between sowing dates × varieties and sowing dates × plant distribution patterns was observed on some studied characters. Other interactions didn’t significantly affect all studied traits. Finally, the results indicated that maximum chickpea seed yield/faddan could be achieved by sowing Giza 195 or Giza 531 on November, 10 with sowing one plant, 10 cm apart on both sides of ridge . Experiment-II: This experiment was carried out to study the response of three chickpea varieties (Giza 1, Giza 195 and Giza 531) to three plant densities (27, 40 and 54 plants/m2). The most important results could be summarized as follow: 1- Effect of plant density: Despite thin plant density (27 plants/m2) significantly increased seed yield/plant and its attributes, the highest seed yield/faddan in the first season (1.113 ton) could be achieved by plant density of 40 plants/m² followed with 54 plants/m2 (0.899 ton). In the second season, the highest yield recorded with 40 and 54 plants/m2. Maximum harvest index could be achieved with planting 40 plants/m². Increasing plant densiy up to 40 and 54 plants/m2 significantly increased plant height, empty pods/plant percentage and stand loss percentage. Heat use efficiency followed the same trend of seed yield/faddan. 2-Effect of variety : Giza 531 surpassed other varieties in the first season, while in the second season, the highest seed yield/faddan recorded with Giza 195 or Giza 531 varieties. This may be due to superiority of Giza 531 and Giza 195 in seed yield/plant and its attributes. Varieties behaviour didn’t differ with varying plant densities for all studied traits. The correlation of seed yield/plant was positive and significant with light penetration percentage at top and bottom of plant at 55, 80,105 and 130 days after sowing. Generally, the maximum chickpea seed yield/faddan could be achieved by sowing either Giza 195 or Giza 531 with 40-54 plants/m2. |