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Research Article

Legume Research, volume 44 issue 12 (december 2021) : 1443-1448

Effect of Row Spacing and Seed Rate on Ascochyta Blight Severity and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Tunisia

A. Ouji1,2,*, S. Chekali1,3, N. Chaieb4, R. Hajri1, M. Ben Younes1
1Regional Research/Development Office of Agriculture in Northwest Semi-arid, le kef, Jendouba University, Tunisia.
2Field Crop Laboratory, National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Ariana, Carthage University, Tunisia.
3Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Ariana, Carthage University, Tunisia.
4Laboratory of Agronomy, National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Ariana, Carthage University, Tunisia.

  • Submitted29-04-2021|

  • Accepted18-08-2021|

  • First Online 09-09-2021|

  • doi 10.18805/LR-627

Cite article:- Ouji A., Chekali S., Chaieb N., Hajri R., Younes Ben M. (2021). Effect of Row Spacing and Seed Rate on Ascochyta Blight Severity and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Tunisia . Legume Research. 44(12): 1443-1448. doi: 10.18805/LR-627.

ABSTRACT

Background: In Tunisia, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the second major food legume. The development of chickpea production is facing several biotic constraints. Ascochyta blight (ABL) caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. is the most devastating disease and can cause complete yield losses under favorable conditions. In absence of chickpea variety totally resistance to ABL, some methods should be used to control and reduce this disease effects and help for its management. Therefore, this work was undertaken to evaluate the effect of row spacing and seed rate on ABL severity, growth and yield of chickpea. 

Methods: A split-plot design with three replicates was adopted to carry out this study during 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. ‘Beja1’ chickpea variety was sown at 40 and 60 cm row spacing and at three seed rates (80, 110 and 140 kg ha-1). ABL severity was assessed visually on a 0-9 scale and agro morphological traits were measured. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Correlations between agronomic traits, row spacing, seed rate and ABL severity were investigated.

Result: Results showed that most of the variation in disease severity was associated with seed rate (r=0.61). The highest ABL score severity was noted at 140 kg ha-1 rate. Over both years, wide row spacing and low seed rate reduced ABL severity. Chickpea sown under narrow row spacing (40 cm) produced higher grain yield (1014 and 1099.7 kg ha-1 for 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons, respectively). Grain yield was tending to decrease with increasing sowing rates but at a density higher than optimal, grain yields decrease. In this study, ABL disease severity reached a score of 3.7 and 4.3 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. These disease severities levels had little effect on yield.

INTRODUCTION

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important cool season food legumes grown globally with a cultivated area of13.98 million ha area, production of about 13.73 million tons and productivity of 890 kg per ha (FAOSTAT, 2016). As a legume, chickpea enhances the soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen and serves as a valuable source of proteins (Gupta et al., 2020), vitamins, essential amino acids and micronutrients to human food chain and serve an important component of global food (Jukanti et al., 2012). The productivity of chickpea has been low than its potential yield. This is due to several abiotic and biotic stresses. Among biotic stresses, Ascochyta blight (ABL) caused by the fungus Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. is an important and common disease of chickpea globally. This disease affects all above-ground parts of the plant and can cause complete yield losses under favorable conditions (Pande et al., 2005). The development of integrated disease management is the key to success and increase chickpea production. In absence of chickpea variety totally resistance to ABL, some techniques have been used to control and reduce ABL disease effects, such as sowing pattern, row spacing and seed rate by identification of the optimum plant populations (Chang et al., 2007) and application of fungicide (Armstrong-Cho et al., 2008). Optimum row spacing and seed rate play an important role to increase the yield because thick plant population will not get proper light for photosynthesis and can be attacked by diseases. Fungicide application, crop rotation, use of resistant varieties, sowing date, row spacing and seeding rate are the main integrated disease management options as reported by Ahmed et al., (2016). Regan et al., (2003) reported that recommended seed rates differ based on cultivar, seed size, location, soil moisture and climatic conditions such as rainfall and temperature. Beech and Leach, (1989) showed that the number of plants per unit area influences plant size, yield components and eventually the seed yield in chickpea. Furthermore, plant spacing in the field is also very important to facilitate aeration and light penetration into plant canopy for optimizing rate of photosynthesis as confirmed by Ugwuoke et al., (2021). Optimum spacing can ensure proper growth of the aerial and underground parts of the plant through efficient utilization of solar radiation, nutrients, water, land as well as air spaces and thereforecontribute to the increase of chickpea yield as confirmed by Malik and Singh, (1996). Lopez-Bellido et al., (2005) reported that plant density can affect canopy development, radiation interception, dry matter production and evaporation of water from the soil under the crop, weed competition, the development of fungal and viral diseases, podding and harvesting height and eventually, seed yield.
       
In Tunisia, in absence of chickpea variety totally resistance to ABL, some methods should be used to control and reduce ABL disease effects and help for the disease management of chickpea. Therefore, this work was undertaken to evaluate the effect of row spacing and seed rate on ABL severity, growth and yield of ‘Beja1’ chickpea variety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental procedure
 
A farmer’s field experiment was conducted over 2017/18 and 2018/19 cropping seasons to study the effect of spacing row and seed rate on Ascochyta blight severity and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The area is located in Beldiya, Bousalem situated in Jendouba governorate which is located in the northwest of Tunisia. The annual mean maximum and minimum temperatures and the rainfall of the experimental site are shown in Table 1. Over both cropping seasons, seeds were planted on January 10th, 2018 and on January 13th, 2019 while, the harvest were carried out on June 14th, 2018 and June 16th, 2019. The fertilizer used at sowing was 100 kg ha-1 of Di-Ammonium Phosphate. Hand weeding was applied. Beja1', the most common chickpea variety in Tunisia, was planted in a split-plot design with three replications. Main plot treatments consisted of two row spacing (40 and 60 cm). Sub-plot treatments were three seed rates (100, 140 and 200 kg ha-1). Each row was 4 m long. Ascochyta blight severity (ABL) was assessed visually using 0-9 rating scale as described previously by Chongo et al., (2004) as follow: 0 = no infection, 1 = 1-9% of foliage area affected per plot, 2 = 10-19%, 3 = 20-29%, 4 = 30-39%, 5 = 40-49%, 6 = 50-59%, 7 = 60-69%, 8 = 70-79% and 9 = ≥80% of the foliage area affected per plot. At full maturity, plant height, grain yield per ha (GYha-1) and biological yield per ha (BYha-1) were measured.
 

Table 1: The climatic conditions (temperature and precipitation) of the two years at Beldiya region.


 
Data analysis
 
Data were subjected to analysis of variance to determine the significance of differences between treatments by using software package statistix 8.1. Least significance difference (LSD) test was applied for comparison of individual treatment means. Correlations between traits, row spacing, seed rate and ABL severity were investigated using simple correlation coefficients.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Impact of row spacing and seed rate on growth and yield of chickpea
 
Plant height
 
In 2017-18 cropping season, the analysis of variance of the plant height showed a significant difference of row spacing and seed rate (Table 2). Results showed that plant height increased with increasing seed rate and decreasing row spacing. Maximum plant height was recorded under 40 cm row spacing and 140 kg ha-1 seed rate with 48.2 and 49.3 cm, respectively (Table 3). In 2018-19 cropping season, analysis of variance of the plant height showed a significant difference of seed rate. The row spacing effect was not significant. Maximum plant height was recorded under140 kg ha-1 seed rate (49.3 cm). Over both years, the interaction between row spacing and seed rate effect was not significant (Table 2). While, during 2017-18 and 2018-19 cropping seasons, the tallest plants were observed under 40 cm row spacing and 140 kg ha-1 seed rate combination with 51.7 and 51.3 cm, respectively. Results indicated that besides genetic constitution, row spacing and seed rate also control growth behavior of chickpea plant. The current study revealed that plant height decreased with increased row spacing and decreased seed rate that probably due to plant competition for light. Plant height was affected by less light penetration in the crop canopy as well as increase in the competition for available nutrient which will affect plant branches.Increased plant height at increased seeding rates was mainly due to interplant competition leading to taller stems, as well as the production of fewer tillers as observed by Bhatta et al., (2017). Furthermore, in case of raise seeding rates, plants tend to be taller and develop longer internodes as confirmed by Maddonni et al., (2001).
 

Table 2: Analysis of variance with F values of plant height (PH), grain yield (GY), biological yield (BY) and Ascochyta blight severity (ABL) over 2017-18 and 2018-19 cropping seasons.


 

Table 3: Means of plant height (PH) and grain yield (GY) under different row spacing and seeding rate over 2017-18 and 2018-19 cropping seasons.


 
Grain yield
 
Optimum plant population density in plant is an important factor to realize the potential yields as it directly affects plant growth and development (Saleem et al., 2012). In 2017-18, different row spacing and seed rate had significant effects on grain yields. In 2018-19, analysis of variance of grain yield showed a significant difference of row spacing. Over both years, the interaction between row spacing and seeding rate effect was not significant (Table 2). The highest seed yield was registeredunder the narrowest row spacing (40 cm) with 1014 and 1099.7 kg ha-1  in 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons, respectively. Grain yield was tending to increasing with increasing seed rates but at a density higher than optimal, grain yields decrease. Indeed, seed yield responded positively to an increase in seed rate up to about kg ha-1. Results of Table 3 showed that the increase in seed rate from 80 to 110 kg ha-1 increased grain yield from 868.5 to 1163.2 kg ha-1 and from 974.7 to 1287.8 kg ha-1 in 2017-18 and 2018-19 cropping season, respectively. Under 140 kg ha-1 seed rate, grain yield decreases significantly. The Influence of row spacing × seed rate interaction on seed yield was not significant. However, the highest seed yield (1343 kg ha-1) was observed at 40 cm row spacing combined with 110 kg ha-1 seed rate treatment. Therefore, to achieve the highest yield from chickpea, determining a suitable row spacing and seeding rate is too important for production. Biçer, (2014) reported that high plant density may lead to competition among plants and increase risk of disease and lodging of the crop, resulting in reduced grain yield. As plant density per unit area increased there is more plant to plant competition as a result there was low seed yield as reported by Kissi and Tamiru (2016). An optimum plant density ensures proper growth of plant through efficient utilization of solar radiation, nutrients, land as well as air spaces and water as reported by Malek et al., (2012).
 
Biological yield
 
Data given in Table 2 showed that, in 2018, row spacing and seed rate affected significantly the biological yield. Table 4 showed that changing the row spacing had shining influences on biological yield per hectare, where it was increased from 2121.3 to 2791.8 kg ha-1 by decreasing row spacing from 60 to 40 cm. Different seed rates had also significant differences in biological yields per hectare. Maximum biological yield was recorded at 110 kg ha-1 seed rate. In 2019, row spacing and seed rate didn’t affect significantly the biological yield. Over 2017-18 and 2018-19, row spacing × seeding rate interaction on biological yields was not significant. While, the 40 cm row spacing and 110 kg ha-1 seed rate treatment was found to be the best for chickpea production in terms of biological yield per hectare (Table 4). This combination produced the highest biological yields 3518 and 3392.3 kg ha-1 in 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively. Optimum plant population density is an important factor to realize the potential yield as it directly affects plant growth and development. When plants are widely spaced, biological yield tend to increase linearly with increase in plant density due to no or minimum competition between the adjoining plants. In this study, biological yield was achieved through more plants with increasing plant population density. Ramroodi et al., (2008) showed that appropriate plant density is an important parameter affecting the yield of crops. Optimum plant density is important considering the point that too much reduced plant density may reduce total yield due to reduced number of plants per unit area. The increase in plant density increased dry matter accumulation per unit area because of higher leaf area index and greater absorption of solar radiation.
 

Table 4: Means of biological yield (BY) and Ascochyta blight severity (ABL) under different row spacing and seeding rate over 2017-18 and 2018-19 cropping seasons.


 
Impact of row spacing and seeding rate on Ascochyta blight severity
 
The analysis of variance of Ascochyta blight severity showed a significant effect of seed rate in 2017-18 and 2018-19 cropping seasons. Over both years, the effect of row spacing and row spacing × seed rate interaction were not significant (Table 2). Results of Table 4 showed that the increase in seed rate from 80, 110 and 140 kg ha-1 increased Ascochyta blight severity. Ascochyta blight severity score was lower at 80 kg ha-1 seeding rate (mean score 1.7 and mean score 2.3 in 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively), compared to the highest severity of Ascochyta blight (mean score 3.7 and mean score 4) that was scored at 140 kg ha-1 seed rate. Reduced plant population density could be one tool in a program to manage Ascochyta blight of chickpea. Decreasing disease severity level of chickpea observed with 80 kg ha-1 seed rate could be due to proper aeration resulting in decreased humidity level suitable for fungus growth and decreasing plant population also limits the transmission of rust pathogen to the next plant as confirmed by Mengesha and Tesfaye, (2015). Higher plant density may lead to severe competition between plants and increase risk of disease and lodging of the crop, resulting in reduced grain yield as confirmed by Liaqat et al., (2019). In Tunisia, Ascochyta blight disease is among the major constraint to yield improvement and adoption of the crop by farmers which cause complete yield loss. So, disease management strategies are necessary to offer farmers high chickpea yields. Since only chickpeas are susceptible to Aschochyta rabiei, cultural practices such as optimum seed rate and row spacing areableto control this disease as confirmed by Kimurto et al., (2013). So, choice of optimum row spacing and seeding rate could be among the disease management strategies and are essential for diseases control and therefore provide higher chickpea yields.
 
Correlation among disease severity and yield and related traits
 
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of row spacing and seed rate on yield and disease development. Information on nature and magnitude of association among disease severity and yield and related traits could be helpful for the achievement of the highest yield and determining the suitable row spacing and seed rate to decrease diseases severity and therefore increase chickpea production. Based on the coefficients of correlation computed for the relationships between the disease and yield parameters, Ascochyta blight severity was strongly (p≤0.01) and positively correlated with seed rate (r=0.61) and plant height (r=0.59) (Table 5). It is known that plant diseases reduce crop yields compared to yields that could be expected in the absence of disease. In this study, ABL severity was not correlated with grain and biological yields. Consequently, ABL attacks hadn’t a negative impact on yields. This is agreeing with McGrath, (2004) results who reported that small amounts of ABL disease have little or no effect on yield and the disease may not be worth controlling. Biological yield was negatively correlated with row spacing (r= -0.33). Furthermore, plant height was positively correlated with seedrate (r= 0.75) and negatively correlated with row spacing (r= -0.51). It is usually not sufficient to determine whether a disease is present or absent. The critical information required is the amount of disease that is present. Disease often has to exceed a certain threshold before it reduces the yield of a crop. In other study, on chickpea, Chang et al., (2007) reported that wide row spacing and low seed rate reduced Ascochyta blight severity and increased seed yield per plant.
 

Table 5: Coefficients of correlation between ABL severity, plant height (PH), Grain yield (GY), biological yield (BY), row spacing and seeding rate.

CONCLUSION

Two levels of rows spacing (40 and 60 cm) and three levels of seed rates (80,110 and 140 kg ha-1) were tried to study the impact of row spacing and seed rate on Ascochyta blight severity, growth and yield of ‘Beja1’ chickpea variety. Among row spacing, the lowest disease severity level was recorded on plots planted with 40 row spacing. Different types of seed rate could significantly affect yield and related traits of chickpea. The maximum grain yield was obtained from plot planted under with 40 cm row spacing and 110 kg ha-1 seed rate. While, the minimum value of yield was achieved by plot planted under 60 cm row spacing and140 kg ha-1 seed rate. Furthermore, Grain yield was tending to increasing with increasing seed rates but at a density higher than optimal, grain yields decrease. In this study, ABL attacks have little or no effect on chickpea yields because the small amounts of disease. However, plant population could reduce the Ascochyta blight severity. So, decreasing density could be one tool to manage Ascochyta blight of chickpea. The choice of row and seed rate should be considered as important components of integrate pest management in chickpea. It’s considered as method to reduce Ascochyta blight pressure wherever possible. Since this research is done in one location, research works should be carried out for confirmation in different location in the future.

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