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Discussion
F. EI-Sayed
I am assuming that you have a good control of ascochyta blight in your studies
since you had a local Syrian included in your study.
M.C. Saxena
In the first year of our studies the ascochyta blight was very insignificant and
two protective sprays of the fungicide Dithane M-45 were given. In the next
year, intensity increased and only partial protection was possible with fungicide.
Presently we are only concentrating on the ascochyta blight resistant
material.
S. Hanounik
Do you think that there are possible differences in the structure and number of
chloroplasts among different chickpea cultivars (ILC 482 greener compared
to ILC 202) which might make ILC 482 a more efficient genotype in utilizing
light energy under rather short-day periods during winter, thereby yielding
more?
M.C. Suxena
We have not carried out studies on the chlorophyll content of different genotypes.
It is, however, observed that ILC 482 is lighter green in color than the
Syrian Local and ILC 262, but not much different from ILC 202. ILC 202 is a
tall type and has relatively lesser pods/plant than ILC 482, which might
explain the differences in the yield. Differences in photosynthetic efficiency of
different genotypes might exist and these should perhaps be studied in future.
M.V. Reddy
If we expect that the pressure on land use will increse as it is happening in the
other parts of the world, and if we compare the production of winter and spring
chickpeas per unit area per unit time, how much advantage is retained?
M.C. Saxena
Advancing the date of planting to winter would not cause any additional
pressure on land. In fact because of increased productivity there might be a
possibility that land area might be reduced. The duration for which the land
will remain occupied with the crop will increase, but then only one crop per
year is grown. Our observations on harvesting time of winter-planted crop
revealed that you could harvest the crop 2-3 weeks before the spring crop and
in good rainfall years there may be adequate moisture in the profile to raise a
short-duration summer crop after harvesting the winter chickpea. New shortduration
crops such as mung bean (Vigna radiata)maturing in 60 days might
be a good candidate. We will try it this season.
S. Hanounik
Do you feel that greater root developed during winter is a major factor that
helps uptake of more nutrients and water in spring which in turn is reflected in
higher yield?