Optimizing chickpea phenology to available water under current and future climates

Average chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) yield remains low in major producing countries due mainly to inadequate water, and a crucial issue for the future of these countries is the likely yield response to changing climate. In this study, we simulated potential benefits of modified phenology in chickpea in two contrasting water-limited environments under current and future (+4 degrees C increase in temperature, 15% lower precipitation and CO2 concentration of 700 mu mol mol(-1)) climates. Long-term simulations were performed for Tabriz (39 years) and Gonbad (35 years) that represent major chickpea producing areas of Iran. Mean yield increased 42% in Tabriz (from 138 to 196 g m(-2)) and 21% in Gonbad (from 181 to 218 g m(-2)) under the future climate. Greater increases in Tabriz were due to the possibility of earlier sowing dates (21 days) under future climates. Earlier maturity as a result of 20% shorter vegetative period from emergence to flowering significantly increased crop yield in both locations under current (13-14%) and future (18-20%) climates. However, earlier maturity via shorter grain filling period did not result in yield increase. A combination of 20% shorter vegetative growth and 20% longer grain filling period led to even higher yields (17-24%) in both locations and under current and future climates. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.