I - --ii

(as at Jindiress), the winter-sown crop will develop a deeper rooting system than a
spring-sown crop.
However, data presented in Table 6 which gives the "extractable" moisture
under both winter- and spring-sown chickpeas at Jindiress demonstrates that
although the winter-sown chickpea roots deeper, there is no difference in root
proliferation with depth intervals to 105 cm. Thus the greater root development
of winter-sown chickpea at Jindiress only increases the "extractable" moisture
available to crop uptake to a small extent.
Table 6
Extractable soil moisture in discrete depth intervals under wintet (W.S.) and spring (S.S.) sown
chickpeas at Jindiress (cm/depth interval), 1980-81.
Depth (cm) W.S. S.S.
0-15 2.56 2.82
15-30 2.61 2.58
30-45 2.58 2.57
45-60 2.31 2.42
60-75 2.16 2.23
75-90 1.92 1.87
90-105 1.34 1.38
105-120 0.95 0.69
120-135 0.63
135-150 0.16
Total 17.21 16.56
Yield and Yield Components
153
The potential productivity of winter-sown chickpeas in northern Syria appears to
be highly satisfactory under favorable environmental conditions such as were
experienced at Jindiress (Table 7). Seed yields of 3-4 t/ha at current local prices
would ensure a considerable profit to the grower. However, it is clear from
the data in Table 6 that environmental conditions have a significant effect on
achieved yield and additionally, cultivar and genotype-environment interactions,
all combine to influence productivity levels.
Stress Factors Associated with Inadequate Moisture Supply
The yields of individual cultivars (Table 7) showed that a reduction in the total