Figure - available from: Cogent Food & Agriculture
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
Chickpea production worldwide, area harvested (million hectares; filled diamond), and tons (million t; filled square) from 2004 to 2017. Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2019).
Source publication
Chickpea is a valued crop and provides nutritious food for an expanding world population and will become increasingly important with climate change. The nutritional value of chickpea in terms of nutrition and body health has been recently emphasized frequently by nutritionist in health and food area in many countries around the world. Production ra...
Citations
... In Morocco, its culture is mainly in the northern provinces around Meknes and Sidi Kacem. This legume is known to possess high nutritional value and is considered among the healthiest sources of vegetable protein [2][3][4]. Chickpeas are brownish yellow in color and a bit larger compared to common peas. Considering recent reports, the total area under chickpea cultivation in Morocco is estimated to be from 50,000 to 80,000 hectares [5]. ...
This study addresses the problem of early detection of leaf miner infestations in chickpea crops, a significant agricultural challenge. It is motivated by the potential of hyperspectral imaging, once properly combined with machine learning, to enhance the accuracy of pest detection. Originality consists of the application of these techniques to chickpea plants in controlled laboratory conditions using a natural infestation protocol, something not previously explored. The two major methodologies adopted in the approach are as follows: (1) spectral feature-based classification using hyperspectral data within the 400-1000 nm range, wherein a random forest classifier is trained to classify a plant as healthy or infested with eggs or larvae. Dimensionality reduction methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) were tried, and the best classification accuracies (over 80%) were achieved. (2) VI-based classification, leveraging indices associated with plant health, such as NDVI, EVI, and GNDVI. A support vector machine and random forest classifiers effectively classified healthy and infested plants based on these indices, with over 81% classification accuracies. The main objective was to design an integrated early pest detection framework using advanced imaging and machine learning techniques. Results show that both approaches have resulted in high classification accuracy, highlighting the potential of this approach in precision agriculture for timely pest management interventions.
... Feeding this population, expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050 [1], will require a substantial increase in production and nutritional value of agricultural products amidst the challenges due to climate change, land degradation, and the decelerating increase in resources. Addressing these challenges requires an increasing reliance on high-quality crops to effectively fulfill the nutritional requirements of the expanding population [2]. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has domesticated ancestors that originated over 10,000 years ago in an area encompassing present-day southeastern Turkey and adjoining Syria [3]. ...
This study investigated the impact of soil properties under greenhouse conditions on the growth and productivity of two chickpea (Cicer arietinum) genotypes (V1 and V2) using two distinct soils collected from Marchouch and Beni Mellal sites. Soil analysis revealed significant differences in organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen levels between the two sites. Marchouch soil, characterized by higher nutrient content, especially phosphorus, demonstrated a more favorable environment for chickpea growth, resulting in enhanced plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll content, seed number, and seed weight. Variety V2 showed slightly better performance than V1 across both soil types, particularly in terms of seed yield and mineral content. This research highlights the importance of soil nutrient availability. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the important role of phosphorus in chickpea growth, with Marchouch soil having a higher phosphorus level (62.9 mg kg−1), significantly boosting plant development and yield. Although soil mineral characteristics and genotypes had little effect on most minerals, zinc (19.77 mg uL−1) and iron (69.43 mg uL−1) levels stood out as significant exceptions. Therefore, further studies should focus on examining additional soil characteristics and expanding genotype selection. Based on the findings, Marchouch soil appears to be more favorable for chickpea cultivation. However, more research is needed on the effect of soil and genotypes on Rhizobium activity.
... Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) stands as one of the most significant grain legumes cultivated and consumed globally, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of Afro-Asian countries. It is ranked third among food legumes in terms of world production (Merga and Haji, 2019), with an average yield of 965 kg ha-1 and a total production of 17.2 million tons was produced on 17.8 million hectares in 2019 (FAO, 2020). Currently, chickpea is grown in over 50 countries across the Indian subcontinent, North Africa, the Middle East, southern Europe, America and Australia (Nasr Esfahani et al., 2014). ...
... This legume has been considered as a beneficial source of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and health-promoting fatty acids (Begum et al., 2023). Its seeds, composed of approximately 21% protein, are a major source of protein for millions of families in developing countries (Merga and Haji, 2019). ...
... Thus, chickpea can obtain over 70% of its nitrogen requirement through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) Flowers et al. (2010), by fixing up to 140 kg atmospheric N2 ha-1 (Nasr Esfahani et al., 2014). Although the average of chickpea yield production in the world is 965 kg ha-1 (FAO, 2020) and The productivity has consistently risen since 1961; however, its susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses has also heightened, likely due to the repeated use of a limited number of germplasm accessions and donor parents (Merga and Haji, 2019). Among the environmental stresses affecting productivity, Drought is one of the most important constraints limiting yield potential in cereal (Samarah, 2005;Istanbuli et al., 2020) and legume crops (Leport et al., 2006;Maqbool et al., 2017). ...
Introduction
Chickpea (*Cicer arietinum* L.) is an important pulse crop mainly grown in marginal lands around the world. Drought stress highly impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in chickpeas, which can limit productivity. Therefore, selecting high nitrogen fixation chickpea genotypes that can tolerate water stress is important for breeding programs.
Methods
A total of 204 chickpea genotypes were assessed in eight different environments across Lebanon during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons, under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The study employed an Alpha Lattice design with two replications at two distinct locations. Data were collected for yield and nodule characteristics, then subjected to AMMI and GGE biplot analysis.
Results and Discussion
The AMMI analysis indicated that genotype (G), environments (E), and genotype × environment interaction (GEI) had significant effects on grain yield (P<0.001), highlighting the presence of genetic variation and the potential for selecting stable genotypes. The findings revealed that the environmental effect predominantly influenced chickpea grain yield, with GEI following, and G having the least impact. Environment explained 34.5% of the total (G + E + GE) variation, whereas G and GEI captured 16.4% and 24.3%, respectively. According to grain yield (GY), genotype IG70399 demonstrated the highest performance across all environments, while genotype IG8256 displayed the most consistent performance across different conditions. In a rainfed environment, genotype IG73394 had higher nodulation, while IG70384 and IG70410 had higher nodulation biomass (NB) under an irrigated environment. The NB for ten highly tolerant genotypes increased by 24% compared to the two susceptible genotypes under drought stress conditions, while the NB for these ten genotypes increased by 14.6% compared to all studied genotypes.
... Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important Rabi pulse crop grown worldwide and plays a vital role for its nutritional value in the diets of millions of people, especially in developing countries, providing an essential source of protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and other minerals (Merga, B. & Haji, J. 2019) Approximately 12 million tonnes of chickpea are produced annually, with India contributing approximately 64%, followed by Australia holding 7% of the global share (ABARES 2021) The environmental factors, viz., atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture and rainfall plays a vital role in prevalence of Fusarium wilt in chickpea (Merkuz and Getachew, 2012). Wilt disease sometimes escalates to 100% when the relative humidity is greater than 60% and the temperature ranges between 10 and 25 °C (Pande et al., 2013). ...
The daily climate data collected for Hisar district between November 1, 1977 and April 30, 2022, has been analyzed and presented in this study. The data set was divided into two parts: training and testing data. This study presents the results of ARIMA, state space, and seasonal Holt-Winters models fitted for maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity (M), relative humidity (E), bright sunshine hours, and rainfall. The models were trained on data spanning from November 1977 to April 2013. The top selected ARIMA models were chosen based on evaluation criteria, such as the Akaike information criterion, root mean squared error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, in-sample MSE, and the maximum number of significant coefficients. The state space models were selected based on minimum values of the Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), in-sample Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Mean Absolute MAUSAM, 76, 2 (April 2025), 351-364 DOI : https://doi.org/10.54302/mausam.v76i2.6451 Homepage: https://mausamjournal.imd.gov.in/index.php/MAUSAM MAUSAM, 76, 2 (April 2025) 352 PercentageError (MAPE). The seasonal Holt-Winters models were fitted with additive specifications and a period of 365. Global chickpea production is highly dependent on various biotic and abiotic stresses. One of the critical biotic stresses, Fusarium wilt, significantly limits chickpea productivity causing economic losses ranging from 10 to 40% in many countries and escalates to 100% when temperature and humidity are favourable. Weather forecasting is crucial in plant disease management as it helps to predict disease outbreaks by analyzing how weather conditions influence pathogen development and spread, allowing farmers to take timely preventative measures.
... Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important Rabi pulse crop grown worldwide and plays a vital role for its nutritional value in the diets of millions of people, especially in developing countries, providing an essential source of protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and other minerals (Merga, B. & Haji, J. 2019) Approximately 12 million tonnes of chickpea are produced annually, with India contributing approximately 64%, followed by Australia holding 7% of the global share (ABARES 2021) The environmental factors, viz., atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture and rainfall plays a vital role in prevalence of Fusarium wilt in chickpea (Merkuz and Getachew, 2012). Wilt disease sometimes escalates to 100% when the relative humidity is greater than 60% and the temperature ranges between 10 and 25 °C (Pande et al., 2013). ...
The daily climate data collected for Hisar district between November 1, 1977 and April 30, 2022, has been analyzed and presented in this study. The data set was divided into two parts: training and testing data. This study presents the results of ARIMA, state space, and seasonal Holt-Winters models fitted for maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity (M), relative humidity (E), bright sunshine hours, and rainfall. The models were trained on data spanning from November 1977 to April 2013. The top selected ARIMA models were chosen based on evaluation criteria, such as the Akaike information criterion, root mean squared error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, in-sample MSE, and the maximum number of significant coefficients. The state space models were selected based on minimum values of the Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), in-sample Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Mean Absolute MAUSAM, 76, 2 (April 2025), 351-364 DOI : https://doi.org/10.54302/mausam.v76i2.6451 Homepage: https://mausamjournal.imd.gov.in/index.php/MAUSAM MAUSAM, 76, 2 (April 2025) 352 PercentageError (MAPE). The seasonal Holt-Winters models were fitted with additive specifications and a period of 365. Global chickpea production is highly dependent on various biotic and abiotic stresses. One of the critical biotic stresses, Fusarium wilt, significantly limits chickpea productivity causing economic losses ranging from 10 to 40% in many countries and escalates to 100% when temperature and humidity are favourable. Weather forecasting is crucial in plant disease management as it helps to predict disease outbreaks by analyzing how weather conditions influence pathogen development and spread, allowing farmers to take timely preventative measures.
... Pulses play a vital role in human nutrition (Jaleel et al. 2009), serving as a rich source of carbohydrates (61%), protein (21%) and oil (2.2%). They are regarded as highly nutritious and healthy food (Merga and Haji 2019). Nitrogen (N) fixation helps improve and sustain soil fertility. ...
To cite this paper: Nazir MJ, SA Jatoi, I Hussain, EU Haq, M Shoaib (2025). Foliar application of biostimulants on improving chickpea growth and productivity under drought conditions. Intl J Agric Biol 33:330410. https://doi. Abstract Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plays a vital role as an important source of protein among food legumes. It is cultivated worldwide on a large scale to fulfill human nutritional requirements. Climatic extremes (extreme high and low temperatures, erratic rainfall) are key restraints for its production. The application of potassium (K) through foliar feeding improves resistance against abiotic stresses. Similarly, the foliar application of plant derived growth substances (bio-stimulants) such as iple and moringa leaf extract is commonly utilized to enhance the yield of field crops. Therefore, the present study was carried out check how Nutrient (K) (bio-stimulants (Moringa leaf extract (3%) 3 L/100 L of water, Iple leaf extract (3%) 3 L/100 L of water, amino acid (20%) 500 mL/acre and potassium sulfate (5%) 120 L of water/acre) and plant biostimulants moringa leaf extract and iple leaf extract benefits kabuli chickpea (indus 2019) plants usually 4 irrigations containing 4 inches water are supplied to chickpea but we applied 3 irrigations with 2 inches water to create drought condition in the study. The research was performed at the Arid Zone Research Centre, Dera Ismail Khan, during the chickpea growing season of 2020-2021. Field was laid out in an RCBD design with a split-plot arrangement having three repetitions, three growth stages were placed as main plots while 5 biostimulants used as subplots due to their importance, split plot arrangement was done. There were three different growth stages (S1: Vegetative Stage, S2: Flowering Stage, S3: Pod Initiation). The experiment consisted of various treatments, i.e., iple leaf extract (3%), moringa leaf extract (3%), amino acid 20% (Isabion), K (5%) and control. The application of K and moringa leaf extract in the form of foliar spray significantly enhanced the biochemical, physiological and production of chickpea grown under drought conditions. Increases in yield attributes like number of pods per plant (32.33), pod weight (1.53 g), grain per pod (2.40), and grain production (2576.3 kg/ha) were noted in case of foliar application of K at S2 (flowering stage). Maximum improvement in root attributes (root length, root fresh, and dry weight) and various shoot parameters (shoot length, shoot fresh, and dry weight) were recorded with the application of moringa leaf extract at S2 (flowering stage). Moringa leaf extract dominated in research, but artificial synthetic K was at par in some parameters. So, we recommended the use of moringa leaf extract as a biostimulants for improving chickpea in drought condition of D.I. Khan kp. Pakistan. Therefore, the foliar application of K and moringa leaf extract can be applied to improve the production of Kabuli chickpea under drought conditions.
... Chickpea is a good source of carbohydrates (50-58%), vitamins, fats, dietary fiber, macro-and micronutrients, and proteins (more than cereal grains) and offers tremendous health benefits to the world's rapidly expanding population (Kaur and Prasad 2021). Therefore, chickpea plays a key nutritional role in the diet of millions of people worldwide; chickpea aids in the fight against several conditions, including digestive disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes (Jukanti et al. 2012;Merga and Haji 2019). Despite its numerous benefits, there exists a large gap between its demand and supply primarily due to various stresses, of which abiotic stresses alone are responsible for an estimated 40-60% of annual yield loss (Sagar et al. 2021). ...
A meta-analysis of 712 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with traits conferring tolerance to drought,
heat, and salinity stress was conducted in chickpea. Of these, 588 QTLs were successfully projected onto a
high-density consensus map saturated with 14,246 markers. The resulting meta-QTLs (MQTLs) (54) had an
average confidence interval (CI) of 1.01 cM, which was 3.49 times narrower than the CI of the original QTLs
(3.53 cM) used in the meta-analysis. Significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or marker–trait
associations identified in previous genome-wide association studies were found to coincide with 36 of these
MQTLs. Eleven MQTLs were identified as breeder’s MQTLs due to their significant contribution to phenotypic variance ([10%), modest CI (\0.5 cM), and the inclusion of more than 10 QTLs. Candidate gene mining
within MQTL regions revealed 49 high-confidence candidate genes associated with various abiotic stresses.
Additionally, synteny and ortho-MQTL analyses among chickpea and two other legume crops, pigeon pea and
pea, identified 23 ortho-MQTL regions. The markers associated with MQTLs can be utilized for MQTLassisted breeding and to enhance the prediction accuracy of genomic selection in chickpea.
Keywords.
Abiotic stress; chickpea; meta-analysis
... Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital legume crop grown in over 57 countries, covering more than 15 million ha and yielding 15.9 million tons of grain in 2021 (FAO 2023). While its global production share might be modest, chickpeas are crucial in Mediterranean countries, particularly Spain, which is Europe's leading producer (Merga and Haji 2019). Chickpeas thrive in the Mediterranean's rainfed lands, showing remarkable adaptability to arid climates and lowfertility soils that make them a sustainable, low-input crop that enhances agricultural biodiversity and soil health (Poveda 2021). ...
Endophytic fungi have garnered interest as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters. In this study, we investigated the biocontrol potential of Purpureocillium lilacinum against Botrytis cinerea in chickpea seeds and plants. Molecular analysis confirmed the strain identity and its potential as a biocon-trol agent was supported by inhibitory effects on B. cinerea growth and sporulation. In this sense, high-performance liquid chromatography tentatively identified three bioactive compounds in the P. lilacinum extract, suggesting mechanisms of antifungal activity. Notably, the extract mitigated the negative impact of B. cinerea on germination rates and seedling growth and demonstrated plant growth-promoting effects by enhancing germination rates and seedling growth of chickpea either in the absence or in the presence of the pathogen. Furthermore, the extract improved root length and number of roots in mature plants, indicating potential benefits for nutrient uptake and stress tolerance. Additionally, the extract exhibited anti-oxidant activity and enhanced nutrient mobilization, further supporting its role in plant health and productivity. Overall, this study highlights the multifaceted potential of the extract of P. lilacinum as a sustainable biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter.
... Its cultivation extended throughout the Fertile Crescent beginning in southern Anatolia around 6000 years ago (Sani et al., 2018). Despite the wide range of climates and growth circumstances, chickpeas are cultivated in around 57 nations across the globe (Merga and Haji, 2019). In 2019, India accounted for 80% of the world's chickpea production, with Kabuli accounting for the remaining 20% (Merga and Haji, 2019). ...
... Despite the wide range of climates and growth circumstances, chickpeas are cultivated in around 57 nations across the globe (Merga and Haji, 2019). In 2019, India accounted for 80% of the world's chickpea production, with Kabuli accounting for the remaining 20% (Merga and Haji, 2019). India is the biggest chickpea importer despite producing a lot of chickpeas (Merga and Haji, 2019), because its yields are lower than those of smaller countries like Mexico and Ethiopia (FAOSTAT, 2020). ...
... In 2019, India accounted for 80% of the world's chickpea production, with Kabuli accounting for the remaining 20% (Merga and Haji, 2019). India is the biggest chickpea importer despite producing a lot of chickpeas (Merga and Haji, 2019), because its yields are lower than those of smaller countries like Mexico and Ethiopia (FAOSTAT, 2020). Worldwide, production in 2021 was 15.87 million metric tonnes from 15 million hectares, while in India, it was 11.91 million metric tonnes from 10.94 million hectares (FAO, 2023). ...
Background: This research assesses the genetic diversity among 55 chickpea genotypes, comprising both parental lines and F1 hybrids, through D2 analysis in conditions of both timely sown (TS) and late sown (LS). Conducted at the Genetics and Plant Breeding Research Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, during the Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23. Methods: The experiment was laid out in a Randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Data was collected on eleven agronomic traits. Statistical analyses, including D2 statistics, cluster analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were conducted to assess the genetic diversity among the chickpea genotypes. Result: Both TS and LS conditions revealed six clusters. In TS condition, the majority genotypes were found in Cluster I and Cluster II, while Cluster I was predominant under LS conditions. Highest inter-cluster distances were between Clusters I and VI in TS (158.70) and Clusters II and V in LS (314.29), indicating substantial genetic divergence. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that the first three components accounted for 81.48% of the variance in TS conditions and 80.15% in LS conditions. Significant genetic diversity exists among chickpea genotypes, with important traits like seed yield plant-1, plant height and days to 50% flowering contributing to this variation. These findings are relevant for chickpea breeding programs and can aid in selecting genotypes for different sowing conditions.
... Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital legume crop cultivated primarily by smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid regions globally, covering approximately 13.7 million hectares (Rezapour et al., 2021;Thudi et al., 2021;Food and Agriculture Organization, 2024). It plays a crucial role in human nutrition, providing a healthy food source in both developed and developing countries (Merga, Haji, 2019). In Iran, chickpeas, with an average yield of 409 kg ha -1 , occupy the largest cultivated area among legumes (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2024). ...
