ARS | Publication request: WATER USE/YIELD RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHICKPEA, FIELD PEA, AND LENTIL

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 3, 2000
Publication Date: September 1, 2000

Technical Abstract: A short-season legume grown in rotation with winter wheat is needed to diversify and enhance dryland crop rotations in the central Great Plains. This study was conducted to determine the potential for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), field pea (pisum sativum L.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) to be used as such rotational legumes based on yield responses to water and on soil water extraction patterns. The three species were planted under a line-source gradient irrigation system to provide a range of available water conditions. Soil water content, crop water use, and seed yield were measured to produce water use/yield relationships. Distributions of estimated yields were produced using the water use/yield relationships and the local historical rainfall record. Chickpea exhibited the highest rate of increase in seed yield with increases in water use (10.6 kg/ha1/mm-1), followed by field pea (8.0), and lentil (3.3). Yields estimated from the historical rainfall record ranged from 951-3782 kg/ha1( 2092 kg/ha1) for chickpea, 523-2718 (1406) for field pea, and 286- 1247 (654) for lentil.