Response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to weed competition under elevated atmosphere CO₂

An experiment was conducted in open top chambers (OTCs) during 2007–08 to study the response of chickpea to competition by weeds (Chenopodium album L. and Phalaris minor L.) under elevated CO₂. Enhanced growth and yield in chickpea was observed under elevated CO₂. Weeds caused significant reduction in growth and yield of chickpea both under ambient as well as elevated CO₂, and the effect of P. minor was higher than that of C. album. However, elevated CO₂ reduced the impact of weed competition to some extent. Elevated CO₂ increased ascorbic acid content in leaves, and carbohydrate and protein contents in grain.