Characterization of Ethiopian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm accessions for phosphorus uptake and use efficiency I. Performance evaluation

Breeding chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes with better phosphorus use efficiency has a considerableeconomic and ecological significance. One hundred fifty-five chickpea genotypes were evaluated with andwithout phosphorus fertilizer in 2009/10 at Ambo and Ginchi, Ethiopia. A randomized complete block designwith 2 replications was employed. Data on tissue phosphorus contents, phosphorus uptake and use efficiencyand agronomic parameters were collected. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among thegenotypes, locations, phosphorus levels and genotype by location interaction effects. The application ofphosphorus improved a number of characters with a few exceptions. Yield increments of 15% and 17% wererecorded at Ambo and Ginchi, respectively. Acc. Nos. 207763 (33%), 207742 (26%) and 207563 (19%) were three ofthe best genotypes for yield response to phosphorus application. Genotype by phosphorus level and phosphorusby location interaction effects were non-significant except in a few cases while their three way interaction effectswere entirely non-significant. The result suggests possibilities for identification of chickpea genotypes superior tothe varieties released so far and justifies the need for the initiation of a planned breeding program to exploit thewealth of genetic variation available among these genotypes in order to improve P use efficiency and reducedependency on commercial fertilizers.