EFFECT OF SOWING DATES AND SEEDING RATES ON PLANT HEIGHT AND PLANT DENSITY OF CHICKPEA IN RAINFED FOOTHILL AREAS

This scientific article investigates the effect of sowing dates, seeding rates, and planting patterns on the stem height and plant density of the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) variety “Zabardast” under rainfed foothill conditions. According to the research results, sowing seeds at various rates (185, 222, and 278 thousand seeds/ha) during the first and second ten-day periods of April has a significant impact on the growth dynamics of the plants. Specifically, it has been scientifically proven that taller plants were formed in variants with a wider nutrition area (lower density), while during the second sowing date, active growth of vegetative mass was observed due to temperature factors.