ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effects of different level of Na salinity (0, 3, 6 and 9 dS m(-1)) on growth, yield and yield component of Kabuli (Hashem and Jam) and Desi (Kaka and Pirooz) chickpea cultivars a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was carried out in Research Greenhouse of Mokrian Agricultural Extension Center near Mahabad, Iran at 2006. Seeds of four chickpea cultivars were grown under 0, 3, 6 and 9 dS m(-1) levels of salinity until maturity. Salinity reduced the plant growth, flower, pod and seed number and seed weight. As increase in salinity, the undesirable effect of Na+ was more pronounced and reached the highest value at 9 dS m(-1) in all cultivars. Four chickpea cultivar have different responses to salinity and the Kabuli cultivars seemed to have a greater capacity for salt tolerance compared to Desi cultivars. Hahshem cultivar has the highest salinity tolerance among all cultivars.
