August 15, 2003

 

Hettinger Research Extension Center Explores the Potential of Chickpea

Chickpea has the potential to be a valuable crop in western North Dakota, according to Eric Eriksmoen, research agronomist at the North Dakota State University Research Extension Center in Hettinger. He says NDSU research is helping to set production guidelines specific to the area.

Chickpeas are cool season legumes that are well-adapted to western conditions. However, in the past, little was known about the crop because guidelines for planting dates and seeding rates in North Dakota were not pursued. Existing management techniques were simply adopted from Canadian resources.

The Hettinger Center initiated a study in 1999 that continues today to develop recommendations suitable for western North Dakota. The trial offers results from the 1999 and 2002 growing seasons, but 2000 and 2001 data is unavailable as fields were infested with ascochyta blight and subsequently destroyed.

"Sanford chickpeas were seeded in 1999 and Dwelley chickpeas in 2002. Both varieties were seeded at three different rates; 174, 131 and 87 thousand seeds per acre on three different dates; mid-April, late April/early May and mid-May," Eriksmoen notes. "The seed was inoculated with rhizobia and treated for seed-borne ascochyta with thiabendazole. The trials were planted no-till into spring wheat stubble in 1999 and into summer fallow in 2002. Both trials were harvested on Aug. 26."

There was no significant difference between seeding rates for any agronomic or quality factors in either year. "Yields were similar regardless of seeding rate for the 1999 trial and tended to increase slightly with decreasing rates for the 2002 trial," says Eriksmoen. "This may have been due to fewer plants competing for the limited supply of moisture in 2002. Both years, the lowest seeding rate provided an adequate stand to maintain yield."

Seeding date, on the other hand, appears to be instrumental in determining both quality factors and yield. "Seed weight tended to decline, although not significantly, as seeding date was delayed and test weight declined significantly, especially with the mid-May seeding date, says Eriksmoen. "Yield also declined significantly after the late April seeding date."

Eriksmoen also comments that weed numbers typically increased with lower seeding rates and later seeding dates.

Ascochyta blight, observed in 1999, appeared to be more pronounced on the higher seeding rates and on the first seeding date. Eriksmoen explains that heavy foliage tends to restrict air movement and provides a more humid environment for disease development.

Nevertheless, the trial conclusions suggest that chickpea should be planted by the end of April and seeding rates as low as 87,000 seeds per acre are enough to maintain yield.

Research continues at Hettinger in 2003, as chickpea plots will once again be tested for quality and yield, with reference to seeding rates and dates.

Further research at NDSU Research Extension Centers in Hettinger, Carrington and Minot led to the discovery of a fungicide treatment that controls ascochyta, the disease that destroyed chickpea plots in 2000 and 2001.

For more information about chickpea in western North Dakota, contact Eriksmoen at (701) 567-4325 or eric.eriksmoen@ndsu.nodak.edu.

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Source: Eric Eriksmoen, (701) 567-4325, eric.eriksmoen@ndsu.nodak.edu
Writer: Teresa Oe, (701) 879-6270, teresa.oe@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, thomas.jirik@ndsu.nodak.edu