Effect of zinc fertilizer applications on yield and element contents of some registered chickpeas varieties

Abstract

In this study, the effect of zinc fertilizer applications on different chickpea varieties and the most suitable zinc application dose were investigated under the field conditions in May to September of 2003 and 2004. Three types of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum cv.Canitez-87, cv. ILC-482 and cv. Gokce) were studied under irrigated conditions. Zinc was applied to the soil at four doses 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg da^-1 before sowing. During the experiment, leaf samples were regularly collected every week to determine the chlorophyll content of fresh leaf tissue. The changes in the total chlorophyll content were followed. Chickpea samples of each variety were harvested mainly taking into account maturation periods. Leaf chlorophyll concentration, grain phytic acid, zinc, nitrogen and phosphorus contents were determined in chickpea varieties. According to the results of the statistical analysis, the chlorophyll content in the leaves showed a significant difference among the varieties for both years (P < 0.01).The values of P, phytic acid and Zn contents in the seed and the Zn content in the leaf of ILC-482 variety were found to be higher when compared with other varieties. According to correlation test results, there were significant (P < 0.05) differences among the described criteria. Significant correlations were observed between phosphorus content in seed and grain yield (r= 0.75*); total chlorophyll content of leaves and grain yield (r= 0.78*); total chlorophyll content of leaves and phytic acid (r= 0.93**); total chlorophyll content of leaves and phosphorus content in seed (r= 0.72*) particularly in ILC -482 variety. The application of zinc fertilizer did not provide a significant increase in the yield. However, significant increases were observed in phosphorus, phytic acid and zinc content in the seed and the chlorophyll concentration in the leaf through zinc fertilizer application at a dose of 1.0 kg da^-1 (P < 0.01).

Key words: Cicer arietinum L., chlorophyll concentration, phytic acid, zinc, nitrogen, phosphorus.