Effect of Climate Change on Productivity and Profitability of Chickpea Cultivars under Various Dates of Sowing in Rice Fallows

A field experiment was carried out during rabi season of three consecutive years of 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Field Experimental Block, RRTTS, Keonjhar, Odisha to study the effect of heat and thermal unit use of chickpea cultivars under various dates of sowing. The experiment was laid out in a Split plot Design with twelve treatments combinations, four dates of sowing (1st November, 15th November, 30th November and 15th December) kept in main plots, and three varieties of chickpea (JAKI - 9218, JG-14, JG-16) in sub plots with three replications. The results of the experiments revealed that chickpea sown on 15th November registered the maximum mean grain yield of 1040 kg/ha, fetched maximum mean net return of Rs. 26895/- per ha with B:C of 1.89. Growing chickpea variety JAKI 9218 fetched maximum mean net return of Rs. 27850/- per ha with B:C of 1.67. The maximum GDD to reach maturity (2316.3 days) and heliothermal unit was recorded on 1st November while minimum GDD of 1860.5 days was observed on 15th December. Among cultivars, JAKI 9218 had higher thermal unit requirement. Photothermal unit from date of emergence to maturity stage accounted higher with 1st November sowing, while lowest PTU were observed with the crop sown on 15th December during both all the years. Variety JAKI 9218 accounted non-significantly higher PTU than JG14 and JG 16 at all the phenological stages of the crop during all the years.