Nitrogen concentrations and nitrogen yields of above-ground dry matter of chickpea during crop growth compared to pea, barley and oat in central Europe

Abstract

Alternative crops like chickpea could become of interest under Pannonian climate conditions in CentralEurope due to fo recasted changes in climate . Therefore a two -year trial was conducted to evaluateconcentrations, uptake and yields of nitrogen (N) during crop growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)compared to pea (Pisum sativum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) as affected by Nfertilization with either calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or the depot fertilizer Basacote® Plus 6M (DF) ineastern Austria. Chickpea had the lowest above-ground dry matter (AGDM) and N yields among the fourcrops in 2006; however, it could gain higher AGDM and N yields than those of barley and oat under droughtconditions in 2007 . N concentrations and N yields throughout crop growth were increased by increasing ratesof N fertilization (with CAN showing generally higher va lues than DF). Chickpea ha d a high crop N uptakerate and a high relative N uptake rate even under drought conditions. Thus, result s indicate d that chickpeacould be an alternative crop in dry environments for achieving reasonably N yields in Central Europeangrowing conditions.