Impacts of agronomic practices in the management of Fusarium wilt of chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop with high protein content. The crop suffers yield loss due to wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. Following proper agronomic practices helps curtail disease incidence and increase yield. Agronomic practices including intercropping, sowing dates and row to row spacing were followed to evaluate their effect on wilt incidence and root nodulation, pod count and yield of chickpea. Intercropping chickpea with mustard was best in reducing disease incidence and pathogen soil population with enhanced seed emergence and number of root nodules and pods and yield. Planting of chickpea on 20 November, with a 30 cm row spacing, was best for growth and yield. Thus, conclusions were made that growing mustard as an intercrop, sowing in early November and following 30 cm row spacing can reduce disease incidence and favour crop yield.