The Effect of Stage of Harvest and Storage on the Seed Quality of Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.)

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the effects of harvesting stages on the seed quality of chickpea. Chickpea seed of three varieties (BARI Chola-5, BARI Chola-6 and BARI Chola-8) were collected at three harvestings times i.e. from three different times at 7 days interval prior to harvesting, viz. i) when the pods were yellowish with a few yellow greens (H₁ stage), ii) when most of the pods were light brown with a few yellow (H₂ stage), and iii) when all the pods were completely brown and dry (H₃ stage). Significant variation was observed in three varieties of chickpea for all the parameters studied except vigour-I. The highest germination percentage, root length, shoot length, root plus shoot length and vigour-II was observed in BARI Chola-5 which was significantly higher over BARI Chola-8. Dry weight was found to be significantly higher in BARI Chola-8 which was identical to BARI Chola-6. Moisture content was significantly higher in BARI Chola-8. Seed collected at the stage when most of the pods were light brown with a few yellow (H₂ stage) recorded the highest germination percentage, dry weight, vigour-I and root length. Pods (H₁ stage) gave the highest moisture content in seeds. BARI Chola-5 seeds recorded the highest germination at H₂ stage. Interaction effects of varieties and harvesting stage had non-significant effect on germination percentage, vigour-I, shoot length and vigour-II in both the years.

Keywords: Chickpea, Harvesting stage, Storage, Vigour, Moisture, Germination

DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i3.4403

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(3),303-310, 2009