Agronomic and Grain Quality Traits of Different Chickpea Cultivars Grown in Southern Germany

In Germany, chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) is so far considered as a “new” crop. Introducing “new” crops in new growing regions can face many challenges. One of the major challenges is selecting appropriate cultivars. This study aimed to provide clear, region‐specific recommendations for suitable chickpea cultivars to support future agronomic optimization and broader adoption in the German climate. In total, 19 chickpea cultivars were evaluated over 3 years and at two locations for grain weight and thousand‐grain weight (TGW). Of these 19 cultivars, 10 were used in all years and at all locations. Phenological development revealed a significant cultivar effect for all observed growth stages, except for the first flowering date. The desi‐type cultivars Elmo and Noir de Sicile, and the kabuli‐type cultivars APSC4 and Flamenco exhibited a high yield potential of > 1.600 kg DM ha −1 . Blanco Lechoso (kabuli type) achieved the highest TGW (511 g), whereas Noir de Sicile (desi type) exhibited the lowest TGW (239 g). The average harvest index was 0.38, which was not significantly affected by cultivar; instead, it was explained by the year × cultivar interaction, which was associated with indeterminate growth under well‐watered conditions, particularly during summers with substantial rainfall. Overall, the average protein content was 19.67%, with the cultivar effect not significant, whereas the amino acid composition was partly affected by the cultivar for the amino acids: Tyrosine, Cysteine, and Leucine. The results provide a useful reference for farmers in selecting chickpea cultivars that meet consumer demand for regionally produced, high‐value products.