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May 27, 2026Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Agronomic evaluation of chickpea genotypes under induced water stress at different growth stages
Abstract
Drought stress impacts chickpea (Cicer arietinum) performance across all growth stages, making it crucial to identify its specific effects during critical vegetative and reproductive phases. This study determined drought response of selected chickpea genotypes to induced water stress at seedling (ST) and pre-flowering (FL) stages in a controlled glasshouse environment at Egerton University. A Randomized Complete Block Design was applied. Water stress at the seedling (ST) and flowering (FL) stages significantly impacted most vegetative and yield traits among the 23 chickpea genotypes which included local and international accessions. Drought stress during the ST stage caused a significant (p < 0.05) percentage decrease in vegetative traits (leaf and branch number, plant height, diameter and biomass) compared to stress at the FL stage. However, yield was more significantly reduced by FL (79.97%) compared to during ST stages (76.41%). Water stress applied before flowering is a more effective method to screening for drought resistance in chickpeas, hence the recommended approach for selecting drought tolerant genotypes. Given the lower effect of induced water stress on Chania 2, ICCV 4958, and Flipper, further field evaluation of these genotypes is recommended in areas with unpredictable rainfall patterns to confirm their stability, adaptability, and performance under field drought.
