Adoption of Winter-Sown Chickpea in Syria

Abstract

Summary Report on winter chickpea in Syria (1992): Traditionally, in Syria, chickpea is sown in spring. Although this allows the crop to evade conditions favoring the development of Ascochyca blight, flowering and grain production occur at a time of low rainfall and high temperature. In consequence, yields are low and unstable. Winter-sown varieties, developed for resistance/ tolerance to blight and cold, reach the reproductive stage earlier and, therefore, have much higher yield potential. Over 10 years of trials, winter-sown varieties have consistently out yielded local spring-sown ones. Moreover, partial budgeting, based on records of the variable costs, indicates substantially higher net returns every year from winter chickpeas, despite local and seasonal differences in growth conditions.