Effect of sowing date and herbicides on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) growth, yield, yield components and companion weeds under rainfed conditions at Duhok governorate

This experiment was carried out at the research farm of Field Crops Department, Agricultural College, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region- Iraq during spring season 2015-2016. The experiment comprised of three sowing date (15 February, 1 March and 15 March) and four herbicide treatments (Propyzamide, Haloxyfop, Trifluraline and weedy Check). The experiment laid out in a split plot design based on the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications assigning sowing dates in the main plots and herbicide treatments in the sub-plots. Results revealed that the Haloxyfop had good effect on reducing the number of narrow leaved weeds per m2 followed by Trifluraline which recorded 0.44 and 8.00 respectively. The application of Trifluraline herbicide at 15-February sowing date gave lowest dry weight of broad leaved weeds 86.80 g/m2 , maximum plant height (48.33 cm) , 100-seed weight (30.50 g) , harvest index (34.17%) and the highest seed yield 2499.52 kg ha-1 which cause to increasing yield 120.37% compare to weedy check at the same date of sowing.