Impact of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield potential of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Introduction

Pulses are an essential supplier of nutrition for billions of lives globally. Pulses are an essential source of protein for a significant portion of the global population and also aid in the creation of healthy soils and climate change mitigation by virtue of their nitrogen-fixation capabilities. Amongst the legumes, Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an essential crop cultivate and consumed all over the world. It is an excellent option for protein, fiber, carbs, vitamins along with certain minerals. India is the world's largest producer of chickpeas, which are cultivated across the world. It is cultivated in an area of 15.1 million ha around the world, with a total production of 15.8 million tons and annual production of 12.52 q/ha (Faostat 2021) [4] . During 2021-22 (fourth estimate), chickpea production of India was 13.75 million tons from an acreage of 10.91 million ha. with a productivity of 12.6 q/ha (DES 2023, MOAF&W, GoI) [1] . Only chickpeas contribute to about half of India's pulse production. In Madhya Pradesh total production of chickpea (2020-21) was 29.31 lakh tons from 19.36 lakh ha area with an annual production 15.14 q/ha (DES 2023, MOAF&W, GoI) [1] . The concept behind integrated nutrient management is Maintaining the fertility of the soil and providing vital plant nutrients at the ideal level for the sustained growth of the targeted crop and crop yield. Vermicompost is a valuable resource of organic matter and nutrients, which may enhance the soil physical characteristics, activity of microbes, moisture retention, availability of nutrients, and soil structures. Rhizobium is an essential part of integrated nutrient management (INM) for chickpea production, which provides an inexpensive, cost efficient, environmentally acceptable biofertilizer input. Biofertilizers must be applied conjunction with both organic and inorganic fertilizers in order to boost the productivity of crops. Regardless of extensive study, there are still gaps, especially when it comes to integrated nutrient management (INM) in certain varieties and specific area. The majority of research has concentrated on general nutrient management techniques without adjusting them to the unique soil and climatic conditions of specific region. There are more regional studies are required to investigate how INM affects chickpea yield in these circumstances.

Materials and Methods

The field experiment was carried out during the Rabi season of 2023-24 at the Student Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Science, Technology, and Research, SPU Balaghat. The experimental field's soil consisted of medium black clay (Vertisols). The climate in Balaghat is subtropical, defined by hot summers and generally dryness except during the southwest monsoon season. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) featuring three replications and nine treatments. Experiment consist of T 1: Control, T 2: 100% RDF (25:50:30 N: P 2 O 5: K 2 O kg ha -1 ), T 3: 75% RDF + FYM@ 2.5 t/ha, T 4: 50% RDF + FYM@ 5 t/ha, T 5: 75% RDF + VC@ 1 t/ha, T 6: 50% RDF + VC@ 2 t/ha, T 7: 50% RDF + RC@ 5g/kg seed, T 8: 50% RDF + FYM@ 5 t/ha + RC@ 5g/kg seed, T 9: 50% RDF + VC@ 2 t/ha + RC@ 5g/kg seed. The chickpea variety JG-322 was sown at a spacing of 30 cm x 15 cm with a seed rate of 70 kilogram per hectare. The necessary quantities of fertilizers, namely FYM, vermicompost, urea, SSP, and MOP, were quantified using a weighing balance at the time of preparation of manures and fertilizers according to treatments. The crop was grown with recommended package of practices and was harvested at maturity. Analysis of variance was used to statistically examine the recorded data and significance was determine as given by Panse and Sukhatme (1967) [12] for Randomized Block Design. The observations regarding the growth parameters (table 1) viz., plant height (cm), number of branches plant -1 , number of root nodules plant -1 and LAI were significantly influenced by different integrated nutrient management treatments. The growth characters were observed significantly higher under T9: (50% RDF+VC@ 2t/ha+RC@ 5g/kg) than in the rest of the nutrient management treatments in the study, while it was recorded significantly lowest in absolute control (T1) treatment. This increase in growth parameters with increased fertilizer doses might be due to the availability of sufficient nutrients by mineralization of basic organic and inorganic sources of nutrient at proper growth stages of crop This facilitated the availability of required nutrients for the healthy growth and development of chickpea. The better nutrition to the plant resulted more plant height (cm), number of branches, number of root nodules plant -1 and LAI which resulted in better light interception and accumulation of more photosynthesis. The findings were analogous to those obtained by Elamin and Madhavi (2015) [3] , Dewangan et al., (2017) [2] , Singh et al., (2019) [16] , Jakhar et al., (2020) [5] , Patel and Thanki (2020) [13] , Mohanvel et al., (2021) [9] , Ojaswani et al., (2022) [11] , Tank et al., (2023) [17] and Meravi et al., (2023) [8] . The important yield contributing characters (Table 2) like the number of pods plant -1 , seed index (g), seed yield (qt ha -1 ) and straw yield (qt ha -1 ) was significantly influenced by different nutrient treatments except the character number of seeds pod -1 .

Results and Discussion

Growth parametrs

Yield attributes and yield

The yield contributing characters was significant more under treatment T9: (50% RDF+VC@ 2t/ha+RC@ 5g/kg) than in the rest of the nutrient management treatments in the study, while it was recorded significantly lowest in absolute control (T1)

treatment. The grain and straw yield of chickpea was found to be significantly higher (17.61 and 22.96 qt ha -1 respectively) in T9: (50% RDF+VC@ 2t/ha+RC@ 5g/kg). The grain and straw yield are lowest under nutrient management treatment (T1). Adequate supply of NPK played a crucial role in physiological developmental processes in plant life. Important nutrients might have accelerated the growth processes that resulted in enhancement of seed yield and straw yield of the crop. This is due to efficiently utilization of crucial nutrients which was reflected in production of higher seed and straw yield. These results were in agreement with the findings of Elamin and Madhavi (2015) [3] , Nemade et al., (2017) [10] , Dewangan et al., (2017) [2] , Singh et al., (2017) [15] , Kumar et al., (2018) [6] , Singh et al., (2019) [16] , Kumar et al., (2019) [7] , Patel and Thanki (2020) [13] , Mohanvel et al., (2021) [9] , Ojaswani et al. (2022) [11] . The data recorded in Table 3 showed that the among different integrated nutrient management treatments, the application of treatment 50% RDF + FYM@ 5 t/ha + RC@ 5g/kg (T8) recorded significantly maximum gross monetary returns of 80544 Rs ha -1 and net monetary returns of 45868 Rs ha -1 during Rabi, 2023-24 as compared to other integrated nutrient management treatments. The maximum cost of cultivation recorded in treatment 50% RDF + VC @ 2 t/ha + RC@ 5g/kg (T9) than rest of nutrient management treatments and the benefit cost ratio of chickpea fertilized with 100% RDF (T2) was found significantly superior (2.00) as compared to other nutrient management treatments. These confirm with findings Dewangan et al., (2017) [2] , Singh et al., (2017) [15] , Kumar et al., (2018) [6] , Singh et al., (2019) [16] , Mohanvel et al. (2021) [9] and Raut et al., (2022) [14] .

Economics

Conclusion

Based on the results of the investigation, it could be concluded that among the different integrated nutrient management treatments used in the experiment, application of T9: 50% RDF + VC @ 2 t/ha + RC@ 5g/kg and T8: 50% RDF + FYM@ 5 t/ha + RC@ 5g/kg should be adopted for higher growth, yield, and net monetary returns of chickpea than other nutrient management treatments.

References

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