Influence of different levels of zinc foliar application on growth, yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under sub humid southern region of Rajasthan
Abstract
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a major pulse crop of the Rabi season, belongs to the family Fabaceae and is widely cultivated in India, particularly in the rainfed regions of Rajasthan. This study investigates the influence of different levels of zinc foliar application on the growth, yield, and economic returns of chickpea under the sub-humid agro-climatic conditions of Southern Rajasthan. The experiment involved sixteen treatment combinations comprising four fertility levels (control, 50%, 75%, and 100% recommended dose of fertilizers) and four concentrations of foliar-applied zinc (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%). The findings revealed significant improvements in growth parameters such as plant height, number of branches, dry matter accumulation, and nodulation with increasing zinc concentrations. Notably, the treatment combining 100% RDF with 1% zinc foliar spray demonstrated maximum plant height (48.27 cm), dry matter accumulation (11.36 g/plant), and number of branches (5.60) improved significantly under this treatment. The enhanced physiological performance is attributed to improved zinc uptake and utilization, leading to better metabolic activity and flower retention. Given chickpea’s crucial role in food security, soil enrichment through nitrogen fixation, and as a low-cost protein source, foliar zinc application offers a viable strategy to improve productivity and profitability. This study underscores the importance of integrating micronutrient management into chickpea cultivation to ensure sustainable and economically rewarding pulse production in the region.
Full Text
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Introduction
India stands as a global leader in pulse production and consumption, with pulses playing a critical role in food security due to their high protein content and ability to supplement cerealbased diets. Among pulses, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third most important globally and the most widely cultivated pulse in India, contributing to 65% of the world's production. Rajasthan ranks third in chickpea area within the country, where it is primarily grown under rainfed conditions during the Rabi season. Chickpea offers multiple agronomic and nutritional benefits, including nitrogen fixation, soil enrichment, high protein (about 20-22%), and essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, and phosphorus. It supports both human and livestock nutrition and is highly adaptable to semi-arid and sub-humid climates. Despite its potential, chickpea productivity in India remains below global standards due to poor soil fertility, low input use, and limited awareness about nutrient management. Zinc is a crucial micronutrient that influences crop growth, enzymatic activity, and physiological functions. Foliar application of zinc is recognized for enhancing nutrient efficiency, correcting deficiencies, and improving yield during critical growth stages. However, research on zinc foliar feeding in chickpea, especially in conjunction with varying levels of basal fertilization (RDF), is scarce. Given these factors, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different levels of zinc foliar application on the growth and yield of chickpea in the sub-humid southern region of Rajasthan. The research also aimed to assess the economic viability of these treatments, contributing to improved chickpea production practices under rainfed conditions.
Materials and Methods
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of winter at the Agronomy Farm, Mewar University, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
Experimental material
The experimental material for the present study consisted of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) variety RSG-199, a widely cultivated high-yielding variety suitable for the agro-climatic conditions of Rajasthan. The experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Agronomy Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Mewar University, Gangrar, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. The data presented in the table clearly indicate that the growth attributes of chickpea were significantly influenced by the foliar application of zinc in combination with various levels of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) under the sub-humid conditions of Southern Rajasthan. Among the treatments, the application of 100% RDF along with 1.0% zinc foliar spray (T15) recorded the maximum plant height (52.30 cm), which was significantly superior to other treatments and statistically at par with T16 and T14. This trend was also reflected in other growth parameters. The highest number of branches per plant (5.60) and maximum dry matter accumulation per plant (11.36 g) were also observed under T15, indicating the enhanced vegetative growth due to better nutrient availability and uptake. A significant increase in the number of nodules per plant (36.50) was also recorded under T15, which suggests the positive impact of zinc in promoting root nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation. In contrast, the lowest values for all growth parameters were recorded under the absolute control treatment (T1), where no RDF or zinc was applied. The critical difference (CD) at 5% level confirmed the statistical significance of differences among the treatments for all growth parameters. The values for plant height, number of branches per plant, dry matter accumulation, and number of nodules per plant exceeded the respective CD values of 2.45 cm, 0.38, 0.52 g, and 2.10 nodules, highlighting the effectiveness of zinc foliar application particularly at 1.0% concentration when combined with full RDF. These results clearly demonstrate that foliar application of zinc at 1.0% concentration along with 100% RDF significantly enhances the growth performance of chickpea. The improvement in plant stature, branching, biomass accumulation, and nodulation under this treatment points to more efficient nutrient utilization and improved physiological functioning of the crop under field conditions.
Conclusion
The present investigation clearly demonstrated that foliar application of zinc in combination with recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) had a significant positive influence on the growth, yield, and economic performance of chickpea under the sub-humid agro-climatic conditions of Southern Rajasthan. Among all treatment combinations, the application of 100% RDF along with 1.0% zinc foliar spray (T15) emerged as the most effective, recording the highest plant height, number of branches, dry matter accumulation, nodulation.
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