THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT GIBBERELLIC ACID DOSES AND APPLICATION TIMES ON CHICKPEA PLANTS

Abstract

Plant hormones, specialized chemical substances produced by plants, are the main internal factors controlling growth and development. Gibberellic acid is an important growth promoter in plants, and the worldwide demand for it is steadily increasing. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of different gibberellic acid doses and application times on the yield and agronomic characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). These researches were conducted at Applying Research Area, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eskisehir Osmangazi in 2013 and 2014. The experimental design was split plot with four replicates. Different growth stages (2-3 leaves stage, pre-flowering stage, pod pinding stage) were in main plots and various application doses (control, 100, 200, 300, 400 ppm) in subplots. Grain yield and important yield components were highest at late gibberellic acid application time. 0 (control) ppm application doses caused highest grain yield, biological yield and important yield componets. According to the results, late GA(3) application positively affected to grain yield. Increasing GA(3) application doses had no possitive effect on grain yield. However, hormone applications are not the only determinants of production. Environmental factors and growing techniques are also very effective on yield.