Studies on Effect of Terminal Heat Stress on Seed Yield and Its Mitigation in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2021–22 at the National Seed Project, Seed Unit, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, to investigate the impact of terminal heat stress on seed yield in chickpea and to explore suitable mitigation strategies. High temperatures during early, late, and very late sowing periods directly influenced the vegetative and anthesis stages, thereby reducing crop productivity. To counteract these effects, foliar spraying of heat stress mitigating chemicals was employed. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three sowing dates and ten foliar spray treatments, each replicated twice. Spraying was carried out at two critical growth stages—vegetative (35–40 DAS) and anthesis (50–60 DAS). Observations were recorded on yield parameters. The interaction between sowing dates and foliar sprays significantly influenced these parameters. 100-seed weight of 23.50 g, seed yield per plant of 8.38 g, seed yield per hectare of 1746.00 kg and a harvest index of 123.20. Among treatments, plants sprayed with salicylic acid @ 400 ppm at early sowing recorded the highest yield, proving most effective in mitigating terminal heat stress in chickpea.