Effect of plant density and row spacing on the yield of chickpea (cv. Tyson) grown on the Darling Downs, south-eastern Queensland

Abstract

Growth and yield of chickpea, Cicer arietinum cv. Tyson, were studied at 4 row spacings (180, 360, 530 and 710 mm) and 4 plant population densities (14, 28, 42 and 56 plants m-2) in factorial combination in a wet and a dry growing season on a vertisol at Dalby, south-eastern Queensland. In both years, row spacing had only a small effect on above-ground dry matter production and yield, and there were no significant interactions between row spacing and plant population density. Above-ground dry matter production increased significantly with increase in plant population density for about 120 days after sowing. Seed yield increased significantly from 104 to 126 g m-2 in the drier season (106 mm rain, May-October) with increase in plant population density from 14 to 56 plants m-2. In the wetter season (286 mm rain, May- October), the corresponding trend in yield was from 262 to 287 g m-2. The response was attributed chiefly to larger seed size in the wet year, and higher harvest index in the dry year. We conclude that a density of at least 40 plants m-2 is required to attain maximum seed yield in southeastern Queensland. Although row spacing had no significant effect on yield, our earlier research indicated potential benefits from narrow row spacing, particularly for mechanised crop production.