Chickpea crop Better adapted to low water supply. Meets its water requirement from conserved moisture in deep soils. Responds well to one supplemental irrigation at early pod-filling stage (45 or 50 days after sowing). In heavy soils and under late-sown conditions, it is better to provide two irrigations, one at branching and another at the pod-initiation stage.

Moisture stress in the early stages will result in low and non-uniform plant stands stunted plants, pale-colored lower leaves   Effect of early drought

* Late-flowering and pod setting stages are sensitive to moisture stress.