ArticleBMC plant biology2026
Foliar bio-stimulant application at flower initiation optimizes chickpea productivity and grain quality in rainfed environments.
Article in BMC plant biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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8 authors.
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Abstract
Bio-stimulants are emerging as effective agents to improve crop performance under abiotic stress, particularly in rain-fed systems. This two-year field study evaluated the effects of foliar-applied bio-stimulant (Actibion) (1250 mL ha− 1) composed of various amino acids including aspartic acid (1.21%), glutamic acid (3.14%), proline (1.15%) at different growth stages—flower initiation (FI), pod initiation (PI), and both (FPI) on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) growth, yield, and grain quality under rain-fed conditions in Pakistan. Treatments were compared with water spray and an unsprayed control in a randomized complete block design. Foliar application at the flower initiation stage significantly enhanced key growth parameters, increasing plant height by ~ 22%, pod length by ~ 14%, leaf area index by ~ 23%, and chlorophyll content by ~ 19%, relative to control. Seed yield improved by over 50% across both seasons. Grain nutrient contents (N, P, K) and protein concentration also increased significantly with bio-stimulant application at FI. This treatment yielded the highest net economic returns, demonstrating both agronomic and financial benefits. These findings suggest that foliar application of bio-stimulant at flower initiation is a promising, sustainable approach to enhance chickpea productivity and nutritional quality under rain-fed conditions.
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