GLYPHOSATE HORMESIS INCREASES GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.)

Herbicides have been shown to increase crop growth and yield when applied at low doses, observable fact is known as herbicide hormesis.A pot study was conducted to access the effect of ten different doses of glyphosate (0, 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 18, 36, 72, 180, 360 and 720 g a.e. ha^-1) on growth and yield of chick pea in wire house, ofAgronomic Research Area,University of Agriculture,Faisalabad, during winter 2013-14. Four weeks after chick pea emergence treatments were applied to assess their effect on plant growth and yield atcrop maturity. Data for chickpea growth were collected 21 days after glyphosate application and then at plant maturityfor growth and seed yield. Results of data collected 21 days after glyphosate application showed that low doses of glyphosate caused up to 35, 22, 34, 74, 39 and 24 % stimulation in shoot length, root length, number of secondary branches, root volume and dry weight of shoot androot, respectively. Results of date collected at physiological maturity showed that increase in plant height, root length; number of secondary branches, biological yield and grain yield was up to 32, 24, 35, 35 and 34%, respectively.Glyphosate doses ranging from 18 to 72 g a.e. ha^-1 caused maximum stimulation in different growth and yield parameters. Hormetic response of low dose of glyphosate against weeds and weed crop competition is still unknown which should be studied for practical application of glyphosate in crop production.