Question

What are the ideal row-to-row and plant-to-plant spacing in cm for the sowing of chickpea crops?

• A. 60-75 and 15-20
• B. 25-30 and 5-6
• C. 30-45 and 5-6
• D. 30-45 and 10-15

Hint:

For pulses like Chickpea, Green Gram, and Black Gram, the row spacing is almost always kept between \( 30-45 \, \text{cm} \), and the intra-row spacing is kept at \( 10-15 \, \text{cm} \).
This is a standard default range in pulse agronomy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Crop spacing determines plant population density, light interception efficiency, and ease of inter-cultivation operations.
For pulse crops like chickpea (Cicer arietinum), maintaining correct spacing ensures optimal vegetative spread and minimizes humidity-induced fungal diseases like Ascochyta blight.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Chickpea is an important winter pulse crop.
Its growth habit varies from erect to semi-spreading.
Under normal sowing conditions in rainfed and irrigated plains, the standard recommended spacing is:
- Row-to-row spacing: \( 30 \) to \( 45 \, \text{cm} \) (typically \( 30 \, \text{cm} \) for desi types and \( 45 \, \text{cm} \) for larger kabuli types).
- Plant-to-plant spacing: \( 10 \) to \( 15 \, \text{cm} \).
This spacing maintains an optimum plant stand of approximately \( 3.3 \, \text{lakh plants per hectare} \), which is ideal for maximizing seed yield.
If the spacing is reduced too much (such as \( 25 \times 5 \, \text{cm} \)), it causes excessive vegetative growth and lodging.
If the spacing is too wide (such as \( 60 \times 15 \, \text{cm} \)), the plant population drops significantly, lowering the potential yield per unit area.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The ideal spacing for chickpea is 30-45 cm row-to-row and 10-15 cm plant-to-plant spacing.