Response of organic manures on yield and economics of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Bundelkhand region

Introduction

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important Rabi grain legume which is known as Bengal gram, chana and horse gram. Chickpea has a very good nutritive food legume having 21% protein, 2.9% to 7.4% of total lipid concentration and 334 to 437 Kcal/100g energy. On an average chickpea has two to three times more protein content than cereal crops. Globally, chickpea ranks third after beans and peas with an annual production of over 18.1 million tonnes from an area of 18.9 million ha (FAO, 2023) [6] . South and South-East Asia dominates in chickpea production with 80% of regional contribution. India is the single largest producer of chickpea in the world, accounting for 75% (13.75 million tonnes) of the total production from an area of 10.91 million ha. The productivity of chickpea is 1260 kg ha -1 as compared to the world average of 957 kg ha -1 . Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh occupied 3 rd highest area with 2.83mha (25.97%), 2.25mha (20.65%) and 2.03mha (18.59%), respectively and 2 nd highest production after Maharashtra 3.28 million tonnes (23.82%) with 3.03 million tonnes (22.05%) and 2.65 million tonnes (19.28%), respectively (DAC & FW,2023) [4] . Madhya Pradesh has highest productivity of chickpea with 1494 kg ha -1 (DAC & FW, 2023) [4] . Organic sources of nutrient are widely recognized as a sustainable system and there is also a growing interest from consumers in organic food because of the perceived advantages to the environment and human health. Every year the area of organic agriculture in the world is increasing. Soil health is the capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health" (Doran and Parkin, 1994) [5] . Several studies have reported that a positive effect of organic farming on soil health including microbial community traits (Lori et al., 2017) [13] . The use of intensive crops, manures and chemical plant protection products causes changes in the soil environment in Agro-ecosystems (Gajda and Przewłoka, 2012) [7] . The excess use of inorganic fertilizer has led to the entry of harmful compounds into food chain and their harmful effect on microorganism so it is believed that application of organic fertilizer can solve many of these problems as this system is believed to maintain soil productivity and enhancing natural processes and cycles in harmony with environment.

Materials and Methods

A field experiment was conducted at Organic Research Farm Karguwanji, Institute of Agricultural Science, Bundelkhand University Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) during the Rabi season 2023-24 and is situated in the semi-arid, at 25°27'31" Nlatitude and 78°34'47" Elongitude at an altitude of 258 meters above mean sea level and comes under semi arid condition. The soil of the field is derived from is sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon (0.45%), available nitrogen (137 kg ha -1 ) and medium in available phosphorous (13.12 kg ha -1 ) and medium in available potassium (232 kg ha -1 ) with neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.4). The average rainfall is about 400 mm, most of which is received from South-West monsoon during July to September. The amount of total rainfall received during the crop period was 575.5 mm. The experiment comprised of 9 treatments viz., T0-Control (RDF), T1-FYM (100%), T2-Vermicompost (100%), T3-Jeevamrut (100%), T4-FYM (50%) + Vermicompost (50%), T5-Vermicompost (50%)+ Jeevamrut (50%), T6-FYM (50%)+ Jeevamrut (50%), T7-FYM (33%)+ Vermicompost (33%) + Jeevamrut (34%)andT8-Trichoderma (50%)+ Neem cake (50%). The experimental was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The Chickpea hybrid 'JG-16' was sown. The recommended dose of fertilizer (20:60:20 N: P: K kg ha -1 ) was apply in control, fertilizer was drilled and broadcasted at the time of sowing. For calculation of different indices five representative plants from each plot were selected randomly and tagged for observing the effect of different treatments on plant characters. All biometric observations were recorded periodically on these randomly selected and tagged plants.

Results and Discussion 1. Growth parameters

Growth parameters of chickpea viz., plant height, number of branches and dry matter accumulation plant -1 of chickpea were studied periodically at different stages 20, 40, 60, 80 DAS and at harvest in the present research observed that significant increase in plant height (cm), number of branches and dry matter accumulation plant -1 (g) was noticed due to application of organic manures showed in table 1 and 2. Plant height, number of branches plant -1 and dry matter accumulation plant -1 were significant effected due to organic fertilizers. Data in table 1 indicated that progressive increase in those characters with the T7 (FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34%). This increase was due to additional supply of nutrients through application of organic manures which increased the nutrients uptake in plant which in turn helped in increased plant height, number of branches, dry matter production. These results are in confirmation with the findings of Haridha et al., (2020) [8] and Patel et al., (2021) [15] . Among the different treatments FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% was recorded significantly higher value of leaf area, leaf area index CGR and RGR (Table 2). Size and number of leaves is responsible for leaf area and leaf area index. Significant effect on leaf area and leaf area index at 60 DAS with the FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34%. At 20 and 40 DAS were not show significant effect, but higher leaf area and leaf area index also recorded in T7. Application of FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% increased the leaf area due to positive effect on cell division and cell elongation leading to enhanced leaf growth in present research. CGR and RGR depends on dry matter accumulation plant -1 . These results are in accordance with the findings of Kumar et al., (2022) [10] , Vaishnavi et al., (2021) [20] and Raja and Singh, (2022) [16] . Application of FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% increase the synthesis of photo pigments. Significantly increase in total nodules plant -1 , effective nodules plant -1 , fresh and dry weight of nodules at flowering were observed under (T7) FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% showed in table 4.9. Due to the application of additional dose of nitrogen and phosphorus through organic manures which influence better root development of the plant and it might lead to profuse nodulation on account of enhance in the rhizobia activity in the rhizosphere under the influence of (T7) FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% which in turn resulted in the formation of more number and effective nodules Singh et al., (2022) [18] . These results are in accordance with the findings of Kumar et al., (2022) [10] , Singh et al., (2022) [18] and Sridhara et al., (2023) [19] .

Yield attributes and yield

Organic manures are new generation manures which contain macro and micro nutrients in different ratio. These manures are highly nutrient content for organic manures Mishra et al., (2023) [14] . The result present research pods plant -1 , seeds pod -1 and seed index (Table 3) showed significant effect due to treatment (T7) FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% chickpea. The increase in yield attributing parameters such as number of pods plant -1 , number of seeds pod -1 and seed index. Similar results were obtained Sabourifard et al., (2023) [17] . This was attributed due to higher chlorophyll content with enhanced photosynthetic activity and higher uptake of nutrients and there by increased plant dry matter production in the pod setting stage which might have improved and increased the pod development and number of pods plant -1 and finally contributed for higher productivity. Adequate supply of N, P and K through application of organic manures would have increased its uptake and increased the dry matter. These results are in confirmation with the results of Singh et al., (2022) [18] , Sabourifard et al., (2023) [17] and Sridhara et al., (2023) [19] .

The seed yield, straw yield and biological yield of chickpea was significantly varied by application of organic manures which is presented in table 3. Maximum seed yield, straw yield and biological yield 1759 kg ha -1 , 2373 kg ha -1 and 4132 kg ha -1 was recorded with the (T7) FYM (33%) + Vermicompost (33%) + Jeevamrut (34%) which proved superiority among all treatments. which was at par with treatment T6, T8 and T5, while the minimum seed yield, straw yield and biological yield (1406 kg, 2119 kg and 3525 kg ha -1 ) of chickpea was observed under T0 control. The quantum difference in seed yield was 353 kg ha -1 which in terms of percentage was 20.06% over control. while minimum straw yield was in (T0 %) control. Similar results were obtained by Singh et al., (2022) [18] , Sabourifard et al., (2023) [17] and Sridhara et al., (2023) [19] . The slow releasing of organic manures positively impacts on seed yield, straw yield and biological yield due to optimum of availability all nutrients of crop growth might have caused efficient translocation of photosynthates from source to sink. Similar results are in close confirmation with the findings of Singh et al., (2022) [18] , Sabourifard et al., (2023) [17] and Sridhara et al., (2023) [19] .

Nutrient content and uptake

Significantly higher nutrient content (NPK %) in seed and straw recorded with (T7) FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34%in table 3. These result mainly due to easily availability and absorption of nutrients under application of organics without spending much energy for their transport and without any loss in transit. Similar results were also reported by Laharia et al., (2013) [12] in soybean and Javiya et al., (2022) [9] on chick pea. Application of (T7) FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34% has shown significant effect on nutrients uptake by crop. Higher nutrient uptake by seed and straw with treatment (T7) FYM @ 33% + vermicompost @ 33% + jeevamrut@34%. Nutrient uptake (kg ha -1 ) is multiple of nutrients content and yield (seed and straw yield). Hence, availability and absorption of nutrient is important for higher nutrient uptake. Similar results of increased uptake of nutrient recorded by Laharia et al., (2013) [12] in soybean and Javiya et al., (2022) [9] on chick pea.

Economics

The cost of cultivation increased with the application of organic manures to the crops in compared to control treatment in chick pea crop (Table 1). Maximum cost of cultivation of ₹ 26013 ha -1 was recorded with (T2) Vermicompost (100%) followed by (T4) FYM (50%) + Vermicompost (50%) (₹ 25013 ha -1 ). While, Jeevamrut @ 100% (T3) resulted in minimum cost of cultivation is ₹ 22513 ha -1 . The maximum gross return and net return of ₹ 142935 ha -1 and ₹ 84556ha -1 was obtained in the treatment of T7: FYM (33%) + Vermicompost (33%) + Jeevamrut (34%) than rest of other treatments. While, the lowest gross returns and net return were obtained from T0: Control (RDF) treatment (₹ 64573 ha -1 and ₹ 88139 ha -1 ). Significantly higher B:C ratio 3.50 recorded with FYM (33%) + Vermicompost (33%) + Jeevamrut (34%) and application of FYM (50%) + Jeevamrut (50%) (3.42). These treatments were significantly superior to rest of the treatments. While T0: Control (RDF) recorded lowest B:C ratio. Corroborative findings were also reported by the findings of Amareswari and Sujathamma, (2015) [2] , Kumbar and Devakumar (2016) [11] and Akhila (2017) [1] .

Conclusion

Based on the present findings, it can be concluded that, different organic manure under integrated nutrient management had significantly influenced the yield and economics of chick pea.

The organic manure treatment of nutrient of FYM (33%)+ Vermicompost (33%) + Jeevamrut (34%)i.e., treatment T7 was found significantly superior than other treatments with respect to maximum values for viz., total number of nodules, number of effective nodules plant -1 , fresh weight of nodules, dry weight of nodules, no. of pods, no. of seeds, 100 seed weight, seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, gross return, net return and B:C ratio. The nutrient-rich organic manure treatment using a combination of FYM (33%), Vermicompost (33%), and Jeevamrut (34%), known as treatment T7, showed notable superiority compared to other treatments in terms of nutrient content and uptake in chick pea crop.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementsThe authors are grateful to the Vice Chancellor, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, U.P. for taking their keen interest and encouragement to carry out the research work.

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