Chickpea Cultivation in Rice-growing Area of Punjab Province of Pakistan: Potential and Constraints

摘要

Among various agricultural production systems adopted in Pakistan, rice (Oryza saft'va)-wheat (Triticwn aestivum) is extremely important. The total area under rice-wheat is about 1.6 million ha, mostly in the Punjab province. The sustainability of rice-wheat system is under threat in the country due to productivity stagnation, deteriorating soil fertility and increased risk of weeds, pests and diseases (Johansen et al. 2000). The system is inherently exhaustive and disturbs balance of mineral nutrients. Continuous practice of rice-wheat rotation has intensified deficiencies of mineral nutrients (Zia et al. 1992). Development of sustainable cropping systems needs reintroduction of legumes in cereal dominated cropping systems. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is the most important food legume grown in Pakistan but its cultivation has traditionally been associated with marginal soils by subsistence farmers under rainfed conditions. The rice-growing belt in Punjab appears to have great potential for chickpeaproduction and its area can be increased through its introduction in the districts Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Narowal. But to support chickpea in rice-based system, high-yielding, disease resistant varieties and better management practices for preparation of compacted rice soils are needed (Haqqani et al. 2000). In view of the beneficial role of legumes to enhance sustainability of rice-based system, an attempt was made to generate information on intervention of chickpea in rice-based system and to suggest future research and development needs.