Growth and yield patterns of chickpea genotypes differing in zinc-accumulating capacity

Abstract

This study compares the yield and growth patterns of a high zinc-accumulating genotype (HZnG) and a low zinc-accumulating genotype (LZnG) of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grown for 120 days in earthen pots filled with soil at four zinc regimes (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg ZnSO4 kg-1) under naturally illuminated field conditions. Growth parameters were monitored at pre-flowering, flowering and post-flowering stages of the crop. Plants grown in Zn-deficient soil showed suppressed growth, as compared with those grown in soil with Zn (2.5, 5 or 10 mg kg-1 soil) supplied as zinc sulphate. Increase in Zn supply enhanced the growth parameters significantly; however, highest dose was inhibitive in both the genotypes. All growth parameters evinced improvement from pre-flowering stage to post-flowering stage, except for leaf area index, which declined at the post-flowering stage. There were significant genotypic differences for yield parameters; HZnG performed better than LZnG at deficient levels of zinc supply. The 5 mg Zn kg-1 supply was most effective in causing significant differences for the parameters studied. Cultivation of hyperaccumulating chickpea genotypes seems to be a sustainable and cost-effective approach to combat the increasing menace of Zn-deficiency in chickpea production.