GROWTH AND YIELD OF 2 CHICKPEA (CICER-ARIETINUM L) VARIETIES IN CANTERBURY, NEW-ZEALAND

Growth and yield of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) was examined over t wo growing seasons (1990-91 and 1991-92) in Canterbury, New Zealand. T he 1990-91 season was very suitable for chickpea growth and the seed y ield 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 a pplication of nitrogen (N) fertiliser increased seed yields, with 50 k g N/ha giving a 17% increase in 1990-91 and 100 kg N/ha giving a 43% y ield increase in 1991-92. Inoculation with Rhizobium had no effect on yield. There was no benefit from increasing plant population, even tho ugh higher plant populations intercepted more solar radiation. This wa s primarily because of a reduced number of pods/plant at the higher pl ant 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. Th e spring sowing produced 210 g seed/m(2), from only 410 g of DM/m(2) g iving a HI of 0.51.