Overview
Cicer arietinum L. is commonly known as the chickpea. It is an annual legume and a member of the Fabaceae family. Chickpeas are widely cultivated and consumed in many areas of the world, including India, Pakistan, Turkey, and the Mediterranean region. They are known for their nutritional value and versatility in cooking.
Description
Chickpea plants grow up to 20 inches in height and have compound leaves with three leaflets. The flowers are white or pink and grow in clusters at the end of the branches. The fruit is a hairy pod that contains one to three seeds, which are the chickpeas commonly used in cooking. Chickpeas are round or oval-shaped and vary in color from beige to light or dark brown.
Origin
Chickpeas are believed to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean region and have been cultivated for over 7,000 years. They were introduced to India by traders and later spread to other regions of the world. Today, India is the largest producer of chickpeas, followed by Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan.
Common Names
Chickpeas are known by many names around the world, including garbanzo beans, gram, chana, and ceci beans.
Uses
Chickpeas have been a staple food in many cultures for centuries and are a good source of protein, dietary fiber, and several vitamins and minerals. They are commonly used in soups, stews, salads, and curries. Chickpea flour is also used to make a variety of dishes, such as falafel, hummus, and pakoras. In addition to their culinary uses, chickpeas are used for animal feed and as a soil-improving crop in agriculture.
Chickpeas have also been studied for their potential health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, improving digestion, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Light Requirements
Cicer arietinum L. requires full sunlight for optimal growth. The plant should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Lack of sunlight can result in stunted growth, delayed flowering, and poor yield.
Temperature Requirements
The plant grows well in temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C. Temperatures below 10°C or above 35°C can negatively affect the growth and development of Cicer arietinum L. The plant requires warm temperatures for optimal seed germination and growth.
Soil Requirements
Cicer arietinum L. requires well-drained loamy soil with a pH level of 6-7.5. The soil should be rich in organic matter to provide the necessary nutrients for growth. The plant is susceptible to fungal diseases, so the soil should be free from any pathogens. Additionally, the plant is sensitive to waterlogging, so the soil should have good drainage capabilities.
Cultivation Methods for Cicer arietinum L.
Cicer arietinum L., commonly known as chickpeas, requires well-drained sandy loam or clay soils with a pH of 6.0-8.0. They grow best in warm weather conditions with a temperature range of 20-30°C. The seeds must be sown directly in the field during the early spring season, at least two weeks after the last frost. The planting depth must be around 5-6 cm with a distance of 15-20 cm between each seed.
Watering Needs for Cicer arietinum L.
Watering should be done regularly but carefully as overwatering could lead to spoiled seeds. Young plants require watering once every three days, and mature plants require watering once every seven days. During dry weather conditions, extra care must be taken to keep the soil moist. Irrigation must be stopped at least two weeks before the harvest to minimize soil humidity.
Fertilization for Cicer arietinum L.
Chickpeas require balanced fertilization to ensure proper growth and development. Fertilizers must be applied before planting. Organic manure can be used to enrich the soil with required nutrients. Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer must be applied during the later growth stages. The recommended ratio is 40 kg of nitrogen fertilizer for every hectare of land.
Pruning of Cicer arietinum L.
Chickpeas do not require much pruning. Farmers can remove the lower branches of the plant to maintain proper air circulation and promote better growth. Chickpea plants tend to mature within four months and are ready for harvesting after pods have turned brown. Pruning must be done before the harvesting process.
Propagation of Cicer arietinum L.
Cicer arietinum L., commonly called chickpea or garbanzo bean, is a leguminous annual plant grown for its edible seeds. The crop is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean, Africa, and South Asia regions for human consumption and animal feed. Chickpea plants are propagated through both sexual and asexual means to produce genetically identical or diverse progenies.
Sexual Propagation
The sexual propagation of chickpea starts with seed germination. The seeds are sown in the field during the cool season, usually in late autumn or early winter. The ideal temperature for germination is between 10°C and 20°C, and the soil moisture content should be moderate to prevent fungal or bacterial diseases. Depending on the variety and the environmental conditions, the seedlings emerge after 7 to 21 days and develop into mature plants after 90 to 150 days.
The mature chickpea plant produces flowers that are self-pollinated or cross-pollinated by insects and wind. The petals of the flowers are pink, blue, or white, and the ovary contains one to three ovules that develop into seeds. The seeds are enclosed in a pod that turns yellow or brown when fully ripe. The seed yield varies from 500 to 1500 kg/ha, depending on the cultivar, the soil type, and the management practices. The harvested seeds can be stored for several months under dry and cool conditions for the next sowing season.
Asexual Propagation
The asexual propagation of chickpea is less common than sexual propagation but can be useful for preserving desirable traits or generating new varieties. The most common method of asexual propagation is vegetative propagation, which involves the clonal multiplication of the plant from stem cuttings or tissue culture.
The stem cuttings are taken from healthy and mature plants, preferably from the basal or middle parts of the stem. The cuttings should be 10 to 15 cm long and have at least two nodes. The lower leaves are removed, and the cutting is dipped in a rooting hormone to stimulate the growth of roots. The cutting is planted in a well-draining and moist soil mix, and covered with a plastic bag to maintain high humidity. The cutting should root after 4 to 6 weeks, and the plastic bag can be gradually removed as the plant grows.
The tissue culture propagation involves the regeneration of whole plants from small tissue samples, such as meristems or callus cells, in a sterile nutrient medium. The tissue culture method can produce a large number of plants within a short time and allows the selection of specific traits, such as disease resistance or high yield. However, the tissue culture propagation requires specialized equipment and skills and can be expensive.
Disease Management
Cicer arietinum L., commonly known as Chickpea, is susceptible to various diseases that can significantly reduce its growth and yield. Some common diseases affecting Chickpea include:
Ascochyta Blight
Ascochyta blight is a fungal disease that affects chickpea plants causing lesions on leaves, stems, and pods. It is favored by cool and moist conditions. To manage this disease, farmers should start planting disease-resistant cultivars. Additionally, farmers should practice crop rotation and avoid planting chickpeas in the same field for two consecutive years. They should also maintain clean and healthy fields, remove and destroy crop debris, and avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer.
Fusarium Wilt
Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. The disease causes yellowing of leaves; stunted growth in seedlings; wilting and death of plants in a patchy manner. To manage this disease, farmers should plant resistant cultivars. Additionally, they should avoid planting chickpeas in fields that have had a Fusarium wilt outbreak. Farmers can also adopt biological control measures like Trichoderma application and seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens to control the disease.
Botrytis Grey Mold
Botrytis gray mold is a fungal disease that affects chickpea plants causing premature death of flowers, pods, and leaves. The disease thrives in cool, moist, and humid conditions. To manage this disease, farmers should maintain proper crop spacing, continue to prune diseased plant parts, and use fungicides in severe cases. Farmers should also install a proper irrigation system to avoid moist conditions that favor the spread of the fungus.
Pest Management
Chickpea plants are also prone to pest attacks, which can significantly reduce yield and growth. Some common pests that affect chickpea include:
Pod Borer
The Helicoverpa armigera, commonly known as the pod borer, feeds on reproductive parts of the plant, including flowers and pods. To manage this pest, farmers can adopt cultural control measures such as removing infected pods regularly. They can also use biological control measures like application of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Trichogramma species.
Leaf Miner
The Liriomyza cicerina, commonly known as the leaf miner, is an insect pest that feeds on leaves, causing a typical serpentine mine, which later enlarges to cover larger areas. To manage this pest, farmers can use biological control measures like the use of Beauveria bassiana and pesticides like spinosad, abamectin, and imidacloprid.
Aphids
Aphids are a significant problem in chickpea farming. These pests feed on the sap of the plant, causing curling of leaves and stunted growth. To manage this pest, farmers can use cultural methods like the removal of infected plant parts, and intercropping chickpeas with other crops to increase natural predators like ladybirds and lacewings. They can also use biological control measures like Beauveria bassiana and pesticides like imidacloprid and endosulfan.
