Host resistance by sowing date interaction reduced Fusarium wilt pressure and improved grain yield of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) in North Shoa, Ethiopia

Chickpea Fusarium wilt is seriously damaging chickpea productivity. To determine the integrated effects of three sowing dates and four varieties on epidemics grain yield, field experiments were conducted in naturally infested soils at Alem Ketema Enewari, Ethiopia, during 2018. Treatments factorial arranged a randomized complete block design with replications. Results showed that variety Mastewal recorded relatively low mean incidence (15.344%) Enewari (38.19%) compared other test varieties. Variety also produced high yield over others (1155.14 kg ha−1) (1120.91 ha−1). Related trends observed for infection rate, area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), components both locations. Late August resulted higher stand count harvest (132.08 102.08), number pods (50.28 40.62), (1030.86 1122.08 ha−1), lower AUDPC value (321.30%-days 540.34%-days) than early order Enewari. Interaction by late gave (1341.36 1331.85 it had (196.58%-days 483.36%-days) respectively. Conversely, planting caused up to 25.32% (Alem Ketema) 193.67% (Enewari) reductions planting. Therefore, delaying date growing found maximize minimize effect progression wilt, hence, recommended study areas.