EFFECT OF SOWING TIME, ITS PATTERN AND SEED RATE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF H-86-143 CHICKPEA (CICER-ARIETINUM)

An experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 1990-91 and 1991-92 to study response of 'H 86-143' chickpea (Cicer arietinum L,.) to sowing time (October third week, November first week and Nove mber third week), sowing pattern (30 cm row spacing, 20 cm row spacing and 20 : 40 cm paired rows) and seed rates (50, 75 and 100 kg/ha). Ea ch delay in sowing time decreased the plant height, dry matter/plant a nd leaf area/plant, while pods/plant, grains/pod and 1,000-seed weight improved with November first week sowing. Crop sown in first week of November gave the maximum grain yield (2,760 kg/ha). The crop sown in third week of October and November gave grain yield of 2,478 and 2,349 kg/ha respectively. Pooled analysis indicated that 20 : 40 cm paired- row planting with 2,629 kg/ha and 30-cm-row spacing with 2,563 kg/ha w ere at par but had significantly higher grain yield than 20-cm-row spa cing (2,395 kg/ha). A seed rate of 50 kg/ha was sufficient for October -sown crop, whereas 75 kg seed rate/ha was found suitable for crop sow n in first week of November to achieve higher productivity.