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Plant Characteristics:

• Chickpea - Cicer arietinum L. .
• Small leafed, shrub-type plant (very similar to a lentil plant).
• Medium height (30-70cm).
• Cotyledons remain below the ground, offering the plant some frost tolerance and the ability to regrow if top growth is damaged.
• Long tap root, allowing the chickpea plant to use water from greater depths than other pulse crops.
• Compound leaves with 3 to 8 pairs of leaflets.
• Glandular hairs on chickpea leaves, pods, and stems produce malic acid, which deters insect attacks.
• Solid upright stem remaining upright for easy harvestibility.
• Self-pollinating plant. Pods are small, round, inflated, and contain 1-3 seeds per pod.
• Pods are held several inches above the ground and do not readily shatter.
• Maturity ranges from 100-120+ days, depending on type.
• Drought stress hastens maturity.
• Plant is a legume, thus fixes significant levels of nitrogen if inoculated with chickpea-specific inoculant (Rhizobium ssp. cicer).

Seed Characteristics:

• Desi type: small seeded, darker hull (contains tannins), irregular shape, 2-3 seeds/pod, small leaflets, purplish flower.
• Kabuli type: "Garbanzo bean", large seeded, creamish hull, round shape, 1-2 seeds/pod, larger leaflets, whitish flower.
• Seed shape is tear-shaped, round at one end, pointed at the other (protruding seedling root tip).
• Seed coat adheres to the seed better than field peas.
• Seeds have a high oil (5%) and protein content (21-22%).
• Often Kabuli is preferred for human consumption due to the more appealing colour. Seed coat removal is also easier than with the desi, thus less processing losses.
• Seed should be stored at 15% moisture or less.
• The bushel weight of chickpea is 60 lbs..
• Chickpea seed is very sensitive to seed-placed fertilizer.

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November 24, 2003