Practice Abstract 41 - Chick pea cultural guide – Portugal - SOWING

Short title (native language): 
Chick pea cultural guide – Portugal - SOWING

Short summary for practitioners (native language): 
Choose the most suitable place

Like all crops, chickpeas require some specific conditions to express their maximum yield potential. Some of the most important aspects to consider is the proper choice of soil type and plot of land. The type of soils where chickpeas express their greatest potencial is in clay-limestone, and loamy soils. Chickpeas also thrive in well-drained and deep alluvial soils.
For good crop development, choose:
• Soils with good drainage,
• Plots well exposed to sunlight,
• pH values between 7-8,5,
• soils where no chickpeas have been grown in the last 4-5 years,
• Plots with low seed bank,
• Deep soils (chickpea roots explore the soil in depth).

AVOID:
• Waterlogged soils: the crop is very sensitive to excess water in the roots and root asphyxiatoin occurs easily,
•  Very high pH soils: high pH values may cause iron deficiencies,
• Acid and sandy soils: Rhizobium may not be present,
• Plots with many weeds: in the early stages, chickpeas have poor competition ability and there are very few solutions to control weeds (herbicides). The weeds also causes difficulties in harvesting.
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