Research Objective
To examine the effects of herbicide treatments on ascochyta blight disease pressure, phenological traits and yield of several chickpea varieties.
Under specific conditions, pre emergent application of low rate imazethapyr slightly increased the severity of ascochyta infection but only caused minor effects on plant injury, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height and yield of chickpea, whereas, post emergent applications of imazamox, imazethapyr and metribuzin caused increases in ascochyta blight disease, delayed flowering and maturity and reduced yield in chickpea. The pre emergent application of low rate imazethapyr may be acceptable to growers. Sulfentrazone was a safer option for broadleaf weed control in chickpea across locations and year.