Field studies were conducted in 2003 and 2004 near Scottsbluff and Sidney, NE, to identify efficacious chemical weed-control options for irrigated and dryland chickpea production. Weed control had a greater relative effect on chickpea yield in the irrigated system than the dryland system, with yield from the hand-weeded check exceeding the nontreated check by 1,500% in the irrigated system and 87% in the dryland system. Imazethapyr, applied preemergence at the rate of 0.053 kg ai/ha, reduced plant height, delayed plant maturity, and caused leaf chlorosis. At Scottsbluff, preplant-incorporated ethalfluralin caused significant crop injury in 2003, but the ethalfluralin treatment also maintained weed densities 4 wk after crop emergence that were not significantly different than the hand-weeded check at both locations in 2003 and 2004. Treatments containing sulfentrazone provided a similar level of weed control but without any evidence of crop injury. Pendimethalin and pendimethalin dimethenamid-P applied preemergence provided acceptable weed control in the irrigated system, where water was applied within 4 d after herbicide application, but did not provide acceptable control in the dryland system.

Nomenclature: Dimethenamid-P, ethalfluralin, imazethapyr, pendimethalin, sulfentrazone, chickpea, Cicer arietinum L.

Additional index words: Herbicides, garbanzo bean, kabuli chickpea.

Abbreviations: WAE, weeks after emergence.