Chickpea is the second major pulse crop next to common bean in the world with the total production of 12.33 million tons from 12.90 million ha of land (FAOSTAT, 2017). Ethiopia is considered as a secondary center of genetic diversity for chickpea and the wild relative of cultivated chickpea Cicer cuneatum, which is found in Tigray region of Ethiopia (Yadeta and Geletu, 2002; Kanouni et al., 2011). Among the most chickpea producing countries of the world, Ethiopia shares 3.26% next to India (68.7%), Turkey (8%), Pakistan (7%) and Myanmar (4.1%) (FAOSTAT, 2017).

Chickpea is among the most important pulse crops grown in Ethiopia dominantly in crop-livestock based farming systems of the Central, North and Northwest highlands of the country (CSA, 2013). The total area covered by chickpea in Ethiopia is estimated at 242,703.73 ha and from this, a corresponding mean annual production of 499,425.5 tons of chickpea is produced with an average national productivity of 2.058 tons (CSA, 2017/2018) where the potential yield is more than 5 tons. It is a highly nutritious grain legume and one of the cheapest sources of energy protein with soluble and insoluble fiber (Pavanshinde et al., 2015). It is a readily available source of protein (19%), carbohydrates (60%), and minerals (phosphorus, calcium, and iron) (Ibrikci et al., 2003). It also returns a significant amount of residue nitrogen to the soil, adds organic matter and improves fertility (Pande et al., 2005).

However, a number of biotic and abiotic factors constrain chickpea production in the country. Among the biotic factors, ascochyta blight and fusaruim wilts are the major diseases of chickpea while African ball worm and cut worms are the most important insect pests of the crop (Kimber et al., 2006; Dereje Gorfu et al., 2012). Under such circumstances, a possibility of increasing the existing yield is inadequate. In order to  tackle these problems and increase the productivity of the crop, good quality seeds need to be made available to farmers through different seed quality enhancement techniques like pre-sowing hydration treatment, seed coating and pelleting techniques.

The Genius Coat is among the seed coating products produced by INCOTEC Company in Netherlands and introduced in Ethiopia. Its active ingredient boosts crop nutrition and stimulates root development by nurturing the seed; and a chain reaction is triggered that reinforces the entire growth period, ultimately maximizing yield. However, the importance of this substance was not studied so far in Ethiopia. Therefore, this experiment was conducted with the objective of examining the efficacy of Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439 on yield and yield component of chickpea, and to determine its effective dosage for chickpea seed production.

The field experiment was conducted in 2016 main cropping season at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center main station and at Akaki  and  Minjar   sub-sites  which  represent  mid,  high  and  low altitude areas respectively. Pre-basic chickpea seed of Habru variety sourced from Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center of chickpea improvement program was used for the trial. The seed was treated on July 2016 to be sown from August to September 2016 based on the agro-ecology of the stations. The treatments were based on dosage of Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439, where the company's recommendation rate (100%), 50% below and above the recommended rate, all rates in combination with Apronstar were compared with pure Apron Star (standard check) and untreated control. Both test product and standard check seed coating substances confirmed that they are safe for human being and environment. Description of the treatments is depicted in Table 1.

The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. The plot size was 1.2 m × 3 m (3.6 m²). The space between blocks, plots, rows and plant was 1.5, 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1 m, respectively. All agronomic practices were applied as per the recommendations for the crop. The recommended seed rate (147 kg/ha) was used and planting was done manually. Soil samples were collected from the experimental sites and analysis was made on soil N, OM, pH, K and P using macro-Kjeldhal, wakly black, pH meter with 1:2.5 soil water suspension, flame photometer and Olsen methods respectively. The analysis for samples collected before planting was made on composite sample. For the samples collected after harvest, the analyses, however, was undertaken on samples collected from each plot. Pertinent yield and yield component data were collected. The data obtained from the field experiment were analyzed using SAS soft-ware version 9:0. Mean comparison was made using least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level of significance.

The effects of different rates of seed coating substance, when applied on seeds, on the yield and yield components of chickpea were investigated in comparison with standard check and untreated control. Combined mean analysis for measured yield and yield related parameters are indicated in Table 2. The combined analysis of variance across locations showed significant (P≤0.05) difference among the tested treatments for first stand count, stand count at harvest, days to flowering, plant height, biomass yield, seed yield, and 100-seed weight. The rest of the parameters tested, however, were not statistically different (Table 2). Highest mean number of plants per plot (during early stand count) was recorded from seeds treated with genius coat 50% below the recommended rate, while the lowest value was obtained from the untreated control treatment, though they were not statistically different. At harvest, plots treated with the test product at all rate and the standard check gave significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher number of plants/plot when compared with the untreated control treatment. This indicates that seed treatment resulted in good plant establishment where the test product showed better effect, though not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from the standard check. The tallest plant (45.05 cm) was recorded from the untreated control while the lowest plant height (42.38 cm) was recorded from 100% rate of genius coat substance. Taken together, there is significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among the treatments, and that untreated seeds and seeds treated with standard check produced higher plant height than the ones treated with test product (Table 2).

Seed weight is an important yield determining component. Analysis of variance revealed that effect of the treatment combinations significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected hundred seed weight of chickpea. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) highest mean hundred seed weight was obtained from seeds treated with 50% below the recommended rate of test products, and the lowest value was obtained from untreated/control seeds (Table 2).

Soil analysis

Soil analysis was conducted for the composite sample collected from the experimental sites (Debre Zeit, Minjar and Akaki) before planting, and plot based sample after harvest, to assess the change in the major soil chemical properties (N, OM, pH, K and P) at Debre Zeit Soil Laboratory. The analysis of variance revealed that soil pH, exchangeable K and available P were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased by the treatments when compared with the pre-planting soil analysis result. On the contrary, total N and organic matter content were not affected by the treatment combinations (Table 3).  High p and PH and low K were obtained from soil sample collected before planting compared to the other treatments. Soil pH has increased after harvest for all tested treatments as compared to pre-planting result (Table 3). As can be seen from the Table 3, the seed coating substance (Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439) at all rates, standard check and control treatments did not produce any significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil chemical properties.

Association of seed yield to other parameters

Simple combined correlation analysis was  performed  for the measured variables of phenological, yield and yield related parameters. The results of the simple correlation between seed yield and yield components of chickpea are presented in Table 4. The results indicated that, seed yield was positively and significantly associated with the first stand count (r=0.62**), stand count at harvest (r= 0.54**), days to maturity (r=0.67**) and biomass yield (r=0.64**) for the tested treatments (Table 4). On the other hand, seed yield was negatively correlated with days to flowering, plant height and seed per pod but not statistically significant with the exception of plant height. Days to emergence and number of pods per plant were positively but not significantly correlated with seed yield. The present result is in line with the work of Rahimi Azar et al. (2013) who concluded that seed yield was positively correlated with number of pods per plant, biomass yield, seed weight and harvest index.

The results of analysis for the collected field data of yield and yield attributing parameters indicated that the tested seed coating substance named Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439, at three different rates (50, 100 and 150%) was found effective to increase the yield of chickpea. The yield advantage of 50% rate was 0.58 and 0.55 tons/ha over the control and standard check, respectively. Likewise, the recommended rate (100%) improved seed yield by 0.43 and 0.40 tons/ha when compared with the control and standard check (untreated seed and dressed by Apron star), respectively. The simple combined correlation analysis results indicated that seed yield was positively, strongly and significantly associated with the first stand count, stand count at harvest, days to maturity and biomass yield. Based on the current   results,  it  is   possible  to  suggest  that  any positive increase in such traits will significantly improve seed yield of chickpea.  Soil analysis results showed that the present seed coating substance (Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439), at all tested rates, had no significant effect on soil chemical properties. Therefore, Genius Coat Disco Cereal AG L-439 at 50% below the recommended rate had yield advantage over the other rates, and check treatments that shall be promoted since it is capable of improving the production and productivity of the crop, and hence the income and livelihood of chickpea producers.

The author has not declared any conflict of interests.