Production and quality of chickpea seeds in different sowing and harvest periods1

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production, and the physical and physiological quality of 'BRS Aleppo' chickpea seeds in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais State, and their ideal harvest point. A randomized complete block design was used, in a 3x5 factonal arrangement, with three sowing periods (May 12th, June 23rd and July 22nd 2015) and five harvest seasons (100, 107, 114, 121 and 128 days after sowing) with seven replications. The following productive parameters were determined: number of seeds, number of empty pods, production and yield. For seed quality evaluations, the completely randomized design was used. The following evaluations were done: seed moisture content, dry matter, biometry, 1,000-seed weight and germination. For the harvest season factor, data were submitted to analysis of variance and comparisons average by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). The regression analysis was performed and coefficients were tested with the t-test. Seed production was higher when sowing was done in May and when the harvest was performed close to 114 days after sowing, with a yield reaching 5.31 ton/ha(-1) and 10.7% seed moisture content. If sowing is delayed, there is a risk of rainfall during the harvest season, and seed quality is compromised.