Shoots, root and flowering time studies in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under two moisture regimes

The shoot and root behavior and flowering time of two chickpea genotypes (kabuli and desi types) was examined under well watered and moisture stress conditions in split drainpipes in 2006. The data on shoot and root fresh weight and dry weight and plant and soil moisture percentage were recorded at the late flowering stage. The observations on root and soil moisture were recorded at three depth level with gap of 15 cm each. The results revealed that both the plant types of chickpea behaved alike except for days to flower initiation which was significantly different in the two varieties. Root and Shoot fresh weights were significantly greater in well watered conditions, but on the other hand, there was no any significant effect of moisture stress on shoot dry matter content, suggesting that higher weight of fresh shoot was due to high uptake of water under well watered conditions which evaporated after drying. Fresh root weight was only significantly affected at 30 cm depth level due to varieties and 45 cm depth level due to treatments. The root moisture percentage was significantly affected at 15, 30 and 45 cm depth level due to varieties × treatments interaction, varieties and treatments, respectively. There found no significant difference in dry weight among the rooting depths. The cultivar Sheenghar-2000 retained higher root moisture content (7.57%) at 15 cm depth level under well watered.