Effect of Harvest Timing on Yield and Mineral Nutritional Value of Kabuli Type Chickpea Seeds

ABSTRACT

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds are a good source of protein and mineral nutrients. However, there is no information regarding harvest timing on yield and mineral composition of chickpea seeds. The effect of harvest timing on seed yield, some yield components and mineral nutritional value of seeds of field grown chickpea plants in two different sites were studied. The mineral composition of chickpea straw depending on harvest timing was also evaluated in order to explain the variations of seed mineral concentrations in sink-source relationship manner. Yield and mineral nutritional value of chickpea were significantly affected by harvest timing. When compared to the seed yield at optimal harvest time, seed yield was 18% and 9% lower in the early harvest and 27% and 31% in the late harvest in Site 1 and Site 2, respectively. Late harvest of chickpea crops resulted in significant pod dropping and shattering. Generally, protein, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) concentrations of the seeds in optimal harvest were found to be greater than in early and late harvested plants. Harvest timing also results in significant variations in straw mineral nutrient concentrations of the plants. As the results of this study, it was concluded that the harvest timing is critical for yield losses and mineral nutritional value of chickpea seeds.

Keywords:

• chickpea
• harvest timing
• harvest losses
• nutritional value of chickpea seeds

Notes

∗: P < 0.05,

∗∗: P < 0.01, NS: not significant.

∗: P < 0.05,

∗∗: P < 0.01, NS: not significant.

∗∗: P < 0.01, NS: not significant.