Fresh, dry weights of roots and shoots (g)
Three chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) investigated regarding fresh shoot weight (g) under sulphur treatments of 120mg and 240mg. The sulphur treatments had no significant effect on the results, but the maximum fresh shoot weight was found in a 120mg sulphur application, which was (19.0g), and the minimum was (17.9g) that was present at 240mg. Varieties showed a significant effect; the maximum fresh shoot weight was present in Bittle-2021 (19.9g), and the minimum was Noor-2019 (16.3g). The sulphur treatments had no significant effect on the results, but the maximum root fresh weight was found in a 120mg sulphur application, which was (2.82g), and the minimum was (1.38g) that was present at 240mg. Varieties showed a significant effect; the maximum root fresh weight was present in Noor-2019 (2.07g), and the minimum was Bittle-2016 (1.27g) as mentioned in table no 1. The sulphur treatments had no significant effect on the results, but the maximum shoot dry weight was found in a 240mg sulphur application, which was (4.04g), and the minimum was (4.02g) that was present at 120mg. Varieties didn’t show a significant effect; the maximum shoot dry weight was present in Bittal-2021 (4.48g), and the minimum wasinBittal-2016 (3.7g). The treatments had no significant effect on the results. Still, the maximum root dry weight was found in 120mg, which was (0.27g), and the minimum was present at 240mg, which was (0.26g), and those varieties also showed no significant effect. The maximum root dry weight was present in Bittal-2021 (0.42g), and the minimum was in Bittal-2016 (0.16g) as shown in fig no 1.
Table no 1: Parameters of Shoot Fresh weight (g), Root fresh weight (g), Shoot dry weight (g), and Root dry weight (g).
Shoot Fresh weight (g)
|
Treatments
|
Bittle-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittle-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
20.5 A
|
17.3 A
|
19.4 A
|
19.0 A
|
240mg
|
19.3 A
|
15.4 A
|
19.1 A
|
17.9 A
|
Means
|
19.9
|
16.3
|
19.2
|
|
Root fresh weight (g)
|
Treatments
|
Bittle-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittle-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
1.61 A
|
1.42 AB
|
1.21 B
|
2.82 AB
|
240mg
|
1.49 AB
|
1.31 AB
|
1.34 AB
|
1.38 AB
|
Means
|
1.55
|
2.07 AB
|
1.27 B
|
|
Shoot dry weight (g)
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
3.9 AB
|
4.27 AB
|
3.9 AB
|
4.02 AB
|
240mg
|
5.07 A
|
3.57 B
|
3.5 B
|
4.04 B
|
Means
|
4.48
|
3.92 B
|
3.7 B
|
|
Root dry weight (g)
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
0.44 A
|
0.27 A
|
0.12 A
|
0.27 A
|
240mg
|
0.39 A
|
0.193 A
|
0.21 A
|
0.26 A
|
Means
|
0.42
|
0.231
|
0.16
|
|
Growth Attributes
The height of chickpea plants varies based on cultivar, growing environment, and management techniques. Mature plants can reach 20-60 cm (8-24 inches), while early growth has a compact, bushy appearance. Plant height affects crop management practices like trimming (Yadav et al., 2022). Three chickpea varieties examined under sulphur treatments, finding no significant effect on height. Noor-2019 had the highest plant height at 48.35 cm. The Branches per Plant statistic measures the branching structure of chickpea plants, allowing researchers and farmers to determine optimal plant growth. Three chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) showed no significant effect of sulphur treatments on branch count. However, Noor-2019 had the highest branch count, while Bittal-2016 had the lowest as shown in fig no 2. The interaction between varieties and treatment also lacked a significant effect. Shoot length is crucial for chickpea plant growth and development, affecting biomass accumulation, nutrient intake, and photosynthetic capability (Benali et al., 2023). Root length is an essential indicator of plant growth and development, impacting nutrition, water intake, anchoring, and health. It is crucial for agriculture, ecology, horticulture, and plant physiology (R. Kumar et al., 2022). The three chickpea varieties under sulphur treatments, finding significant effects on root length. The maximum root length was found to be 240mg, while the maximum was in Bittal-2021. The interaction between varieties and treatment had no significant effect. Shoot lengths under 120 mg and 240 mg treatments found no significant impact on results as mentioned in table no 2. Three chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) showed no significant effect on shoot length, and the interaction between varieties and treatment had no significant impact.
Table no 2: Parameters of Plant height (cm), No. Of Branches Per Plant, Shoot length (cm), and Root length (cm)
Plant height (cm)
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
42.87 ABC
|
47.67 AB
|
40.17 BC
|
43.57 A
|
240mg
|
43.3 ABC
|
49.03 A
|
38.7 C
|
43.67 A
|
Means
|
43.08 B
|
48.35
|
39.43 B
|
|
No. of Branches Per Plant
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
6 A
|
6 A
|
4 A
|
5 A
|
240mg
|
5 A
|
7 A
|
4 A
|
5 A
|
Means
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
|
Shoot length (cm)
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
35.0 A
|
35.8 A
|
33.13 A
|
34.6 A
|
240mg
|
37.06 A
|
36.8 A
|
33.4 A
|
35.7 A
|
Means
|
36.03
|
36.3
|
33.2
|
|
Root length (cm)
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
16.76 AB
|
15.8 AB
|
13.7 B
|
15.42 AB
|
240mg
|
19.9 A
|
18.1 AB
|
15.37 AB
|
17.79 AB
|
Means
|
18.33
|
16.9 AB
|
14.53 B
|
|
Nodulation
The study examined how three chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) performed regarding nodules per plant under sulphur treatments of 120 and 240mg as mentioned in table no 3. The sulphur treatments had a significant effect on the results; the maximum number of nodules per plant was found to be 240mg, which was (16), and the minimum was present in 120 mg, which was (11). The varieties showed a significant effect on no nodules per plant, as the maximum value was present in Noor-2019 (15), and the minimum was Bittal-2016 (10) as shown in fig no 3.
Table no 3: Parameters of no nodules per plant
No. of Nodules Per Plant
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
13 AB
|
13 AB
|
9 B
|
11 B
|
240mg
|
18 A
|
17 A
|
12B
|
16 A
|
Means
|
15
|
15 B
|
10 B
|
|
Yield Attributes
The number of pods per chickpea plant is crucial for its productivity and output potential. This depends on factors like planting density, nutrient availability, water availability, pest and disease management, and genetic potential (Maya & Maphosa, 2020). Farmers can evaluate the performance of different chickpea varieties by observing and recording pods throughout the growing season and harvest (Jha et al., 2020). Three chickpea varieties examined (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) under sulphur treatments of 120mg and 240mg. The sulphur treatments had a significant effect on the results, with the maximum pods per plant found at 240mg and the minimum at 120mg. The productivity and output potential of chickpea plants are determined by the number of seeds per plant, which is influenced by factors like variety, environmental conditions, cultural practices, and management strategies. A higher seed count indicates better plant health, efficient pollination, and effective seed germination, increasing grain output and crop productivity. The chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) under sulphur treatments, finding that the maximum seed number per plant was 15 at 240mg and 12 at 120mg. Three varieties of sulphur-treated chickpeas (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) significantly affected seed weight, with the maximum weight found at 240mg and the minimum at 120mg as written in table no 4.
Table no 4: Parameters of no pods Per Plant, No. of seeds Per Plant, and 100 seed weight (g).
No of Pods Per Plant
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
12 ABC
|
12 ABC
|
10 BC
|
11 B
|
240mg
|
15 AB
|
16 A
|
7 C
|
13 A
|
Means
|
13
|
14
|
8 B
|
|
No. of seeds Per Plant
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
14 ABC
|
12 ABC
|
12 C
|
12 AB
|
240mg
|
16 A
|
16 A
|
12 BC
|
15 A
|
Means
|
15
|
14
|
12B
|
|
100 seed weight (g)
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
2.92 AB
|
2.91 AB
|
2.61 B
|
2.81 AB
|
240mg
|
3.60 A
|
3.67 A
|
2.89 AB
|
3.39 A
|
Means
|
3.26
|
3.29
|
2.71 B
|
|
Economic Yield (%), Biological Yield (%), and Harvest Index (%)
The sulphur treatments had the highest significant effect on the results; the maximum economic yield was found in 240mg, which was (28.17), and the minimum was present in 120 mg, which was (24.52). The varieties also showed a significant effect on economic yield; the maximum value was present in Noor-2019 (30.05), and the minimum was Bittal-2016 (16.03). The sulphur treatments had the highest significant effect on the results; the maximum harvest index % was found in 240mg, which was (2,242.55), and the minimum was present in 120 mg, which was (1,564.21) as shown in fig no 4. The varieties also showed a significant effect on harvest index %; the maximum value was present in Noor-2019 (2076.075), and the minimum was Bittal-2016 (1570.71) as mentioned in table no 5. The biological yield, the total biomass produced by a crop or plant population, is influenced by genetics, environment, production methods, and management strategies (Bailey-Serres et al., 2019). Three varieties of sulphur-treated chickpeas were analyzed, with the highest biological yield at 240mg (32.76) and the lowest at 120mg (28.7). The interaction between varieties and treatments had no significant effect.
Table no 5: Parameters of Economic Yield, Biological yield, and Harvest Index.
Economic Yield
|
Treatment
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
17.34 B
|
27.49 A
|
14.37 B
|
24.52 B
|
240mg
|
34.22 A
|
32.60 A
|
17.70 B
|
28.17 A
|
Means
|
25.78
|
30.05
|
16.03 B
|
|
Biological yield
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
31
|
31.70 B
|
23.34 C
|
28.7 B
|
240mg
|
31 B
|
36.53 A
|
30.67 B
|
32.76 A
|
Means
|
31 B
|
34.11
|
26.99 B
|
|
Harvest Index
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
1634.26 B
|
1592.95 B
|
1465.87 B
|
1,564.21 B
|
240mg
|
2492.92 A
|
2559.20 A
|
1675.55 B
|
2,242.55 A
|
Means
|
1254.63
|
2076.075
|
1570.71 B
|
|
Chlorophyll a, b, and c
The advantages of chlorophyll on chickpea productivity can be influenced by elements such as genetic features, environmental circumstances, nutrient availability, and crop management techniques. Sulphur and its levels were significantly affected by chlorophyll a (Maphosa et al., 2020). Three chickpea varieties were examined (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) performed regarding chlorophyll under sulphur treatments of 120mg and 240mg. The sulphur treatments had a highly significant effect on the results; the maximum chlorophyll a found in 240mg, which was (0.23), and the minimum was present in 120 mg, which was (0.18). The varieties also showed a significant effect on chlorophyll a, as the maximum value was present in Bittal-2021 (0.30), and the minimum was in Bittal-2016 (0.13). Chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) performed in terms of chlorophyll b under sulphur treatments of 120mg and 240mg. The sulphur treatments had a highly significant effect on the results; the maximum chlorophyll b was found in 240mg, which was (0.28), and the minimum was present in 120 mg, which was (0.23) as mentioned in table no 6. The varieties also showed a significant effect on chlorophyll b; the maximum value was present in Bittal-2021 (0.32), and the minimum was in Bittal-2016 (0.19) as mentioned in fig no 5. Chickpea varieties (Bittal-2021, Noor-2019, and Bittal-2016) performed in terms of carotenoids under sulphur treatments of 120mg and 240mg. The sulphur treatments had a highly significant effect on the results; the maximum carotenoids found in 240mg was (0.31), and the minimum was 120 mg, which was (0.27). The varieties also showed a significant effect on carotenoids; the maximum value was present in Bittal-2021 (0.35), and the minimum was in Bittal-2016 (0.24).
Table no 6: Parameters of Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, and Carotenoids.
Chlorophyll a
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Noor-2019
|
Means
|
120mg
|
0.25 B
|
0.17 CD
|
0.13 D
|
0.18 A
|
240mg
|
0.35 A
|
0.20 BC
|
0.137 D
|
0.23 B
|
Means
|
0.30
|
0.18B
|
0.13 C
|
|
Chlorophyll b
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
0.31 AB
|
0.23B
|
0.14 C
|
0.23 B
|
240mg
|
0.34 A
|
0.27 AB
|
0.27B
|
0.28 A
|
Means
|
0.32
|
0.25 B
|
0.19 C
|
|
Carotenoids
|
Treatments
|
Bittal-2021
|
Noor-2019
|
Bittal-2016
|
Means
|
120mg
|
0.34 AB
|
0.26 D
|
0.22 D
|
0.27 A
|
240mg
|
0.37 A
|
0.31 BC
|
0.26 CD
|
0.31 B
|
Means
|
0.35
|
0.28 B
|
0.24 C
|
|