Abstract
The delayed planting suppresses germination, growth and productivity of chickpea due to low temperature. Seed priming may improve the germination and growth of chickpea; however, no study has reported the effect of seed priming techniques on germination indices, growth and productivity of late-sown chickpea. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of seed priming in improving performance of late sown chickpea. Chickpea seeds were subjected to on-farm priming, hydropriming and osmopriming (CaCl2). In experiment I, seeds of chickpea cultivars Punjab-2008 and Thal-2006 were sown in soil filled pots. Seed priming improved crop stand establishment and seedling dry weight owing to priming-induced improvement in sugars' metabolism. In the second experiment, primed and untreated seeds of both chickpea cultivars were sown on Dec 03 and 18, and Jan 03 at Faisalabad and Multan, Pakistan during three growing seasons. Delay in planting decreased the germination indices, crop stand, growth and yield at both sites during all 3years. Seed priming improved crop stand and growth of both chickpea cultivars resulting in increase in grain yield and net economic returns, and osmopriming was the most effective. Chickpea cultivars differed for yield and net economic returns and Punjab-2008 had better grain yield and economic returns compared to Thal-2006. Therefore, chickpea cultivar Punjab-2008 should be planted after osmopriming to harvest better yield and profitability from late sown chickpea.