Chickpea Botany and Production Practices

Abstract

Area and ProductionChickpea is grown over an area of nearly 10 million ha in the world with a production of 7.1 million tons and productivity of 706 kg ha -1 .The major chickpea-producing countries of the world (Table 1) are India (68%), Turkey (11%), and Pakistan (8%). FlowersChickpea flowers are complete and bisexual, and have papilionaceous corolla.They are white, pink, purple or blue in color.In colored flowers, the peduncles may be of different colors, the floral part purplish and the racemal green.The axillary inflorescence is shorter than the subtending leaf (Cubero 1987). CalyxThe calyx is dorsally gibbous at the base.There are five sepals with deep lanceolate teeth (Fig. 3a).The teeth are longer (5-6 mm) than the tube ( 3 -4 mm) and have prominent midribs.The five sepals are subequal.The two dorsal (vexillar) sepals are closer to each other than they are to the two lateral ones in the ventral position.The fifth calyx tooth is separate from the others.The peduncles and the calyx are glabrous.The calyx tube is oblique. CorollaChickpea flowers have five petals which are generally celeste and purplish red or light pink in color.The petals are polypetalous i.e., consisting of standard (vexillum), wings, and keel (Fig. 3b).The vexillum is obovate, 8-11 mm long, 7-10 mm wide, and either glabrous or pubescent with no glandular hair on its external surface.The wings are also obovate with short pedicels (nails).They are 6 -9 mm long and about 4 mm wide with an auriculate base.The auricula are over the pedicel and form a pocket in the basal upper part, which is covered by the vexillum.The keel is 6-8 mm long, rhomboid, with a pedicel 2 -3 mm long.Two-thirds of the frontal side of its ventral face is adnate.The wings do not show concrescence with the keel. Production Practices Agroclimatic Conditions and Production ConstraintsThere are wide variations in the agroclimatic conditions under which chickpea is grown around the world.It is grown between 20N and 40N in the northern hemisphere.It is also cultivated on a small scale between 10N and 20N in India and Ethiopia at relatively higher elevations.These environments differ in photoperiod, temperature, and precipitation.Due to the variation in longitude, the time of sowing also varies from one region to another.Smithson et al. (1985) classified chickpea-growing areas into four major geographical regions.a. Indian subcontinent b.West Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe c.Ethiopia and East Africa d.The Americas and Australia Summerfield et al. (1990) listed the major agroclimatic constraints to production and productivity of chickpea (Table 2).