INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT HYDROPRIMING TIMES ON SEED GERMINATION AND YIELD OF CHICKPEA UNDER ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF QUETTA

In order to determine the impact of different hydropriming times on g ermination  behavior and yield of chickpea,  field experiment was conducted during 2011  –  2012 at Agriculture Research Institute Sariab Quetta. The experimental plot design was RCB replicated three times . Seeds of chickpea were exposed at six different hydropriming times (2h,  4h,  6h,  8h,10h,12h) and control (non  –  primed seed). The results showed  that the hydropriming significantly increased emergence m2, number of branches plant-1, Plant height, and number of pod plant-1, grain yield kg ha-1and biological yield kgha-1.  The highest mean for emergence m2 (35.33  plants), number of branches plant-1(2.80), Plant height  (36.03cm), number of podsplant-1(21.93),  grain yield  (1001.7 kg ha-1) and biological yield  (1959.3 kg ha-1)  was achieved in 10hours hydropriming.