EFFECT OF MICRONUTRIENTS AND BIOFERTILIZER INOCULATION ON GRAIN YIELD, PROTEIN CONTENT, MICRONUTRIENTS CONTENT AND ECONOMICS OF CHICKPEA

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of micronutrients and biofertilizers on yield and economics of chickpea crop. The experiment was laid down in split plot design with four micronutrients alone and in combination of all, along with biofertilizers against the control. The highest grain yield (1866 kg/ha) was produced with the micronutrient treatment RDF + AM @ 1 kg/ ha (M) followed by the combination of micronutrients viz. Fe, B, Zn and M0 (M6) 1477 kg/ha. Protein content in grain was significantly higher in all the micronutrient treatments as well as biofertilizers, except treatment M2 (RDF+Fe+FeSO4) over the control. It varied from 21.87-23.46 in micronutrient treatment and 22.15-23.47 in biofertilizer treatment experiments. Micronutrients content were recorded significantly higher over the control in grain and straw. Economics of various treatments indicate the maximum net return over control with the treatment RDF+AM @ 1 kg/ha + Rhizobium + PSB (Rs 1525/ha). The maximum B:C ratio (1:56.15) ratio was recorded with RDF + Rhizobium + PSB followed by with RDF + AM + Rhizobium + PSB (1:9.90).