Chickpea Growth Stages

Cicer arietinum L.

Legume Types

VE • seedling emergence

V1 • 1st multifoliate leaf has unfolded from the stem

V2 • 2nd multifoliate leaf has unfolded

V3 • 3rd multifoliate leaf has unfolded

V4 • 4th multifoliate leaf has unfolded

Vn • nth multifoliate leaf has unfolded [Fig. 1]

R1 • Early bloom, one open flower on the plant

R2 • Full bloom, most flowers are open [Fig. 2]

R3 • Early pod visible

R4 • Pod has reached full size and is largely flat

R5 • Early seed, seed in any single pod fills the pod cavity

R6 • Full seed, seeds fill rounded pod cavity [Fig. 3]

R7 • Leaves start to yellow and 50% of pods are yellow

RH • 90% of pods are golden-brown (harvest maturity)

Figure 1 - nth multifoliate leaf has unfolded

Figure 2 - Full bloom, most flowers are open

Figure 3 - Full seed, seeds fill rounded pod cavity

Additional Resources

Authors

H.F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, and M.A.C. Langham, South Dakota State University

Photo credits

Courtesy of H. F. Schwartz [03/10]