EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR (NAA) AND AVAILABLE SOIL MOISTURE DEPLETIONS ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF CHICKPEA

Response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to Phytofix - plant growth regulator (GR - naphthalene acetic acid 4.5% a.i.) and four available soil moisture depletion levels i.e. ASMDL1 (50%), ASMDL2 (65%), ASMDL3 (80%) and ASMDL4 (95%) were studied in split plot arrangements. Main plot consisted of plant growth regulator (GR1) with a Control (GR0) whereas available soil moisture depletion levels (ASMDL) were kept in sub-plots. The experiment was laid out at Arid Zone Research Institute Bhakkar during Rabi (winter) of 2004-05 and 2005-06. Chickpea yield and yield components were significantly affected by NAA and ASMDL. Plant growth regulator (Naphthalene acetic acid 4.5% a.i.) applied at 200 ml per hectare in three split doses at 45, 90 and 135 days after sowing (DAS) increased number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, biological yield and seed yield by 12.50, 6.98, 9.59, 2.61 and 13.98 %, respectively over control. ASMDL3 (80 % Available soil moisture depletion level) gave the maximum average yield value of 2929.56 kg ha^-1 while water use efficiency of 21.56 kg ha^-1 mm^-1 was recorded in ASMDL4 (90 % Available soil moisture depletion level). Crop growth rate was maximum in GR1 x ASMDL3. It was concluded that plant growth regulator (NAA) with 80 % Available soil moisture depletion levelmay be better to achieve higher seed yield and yield components in chickpea.