Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, soil fertility and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum Linn.) varieties in vertisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12 at farmer's field of Nayagoan, Kota, Rajasthan to evaluate performance of 5 chickpea varieties (GNG 469, GNG 663, RSG 973, RSG 888 and Dahod yellow) and 9 nutrient management practices (T1:No application of NP (Control), T2:NP (20:22 kg/ha as farmer practice), T3: NP (20:17.2 kg/ha as RDF), T4:RDF+25 kg K/ha, T5:RDF+25 kg K+20 kg S/ha, T6:RDF+25 kg K+20 kg S+5 kg Zn/ha, T7:RDF+25 kg K+20 kg S+5 kg Zn/ha+2 % urea spray at 70 DAS,T8:RDF+25 kg K+20 kg S+5 kg Zn/ha+Rhizobium (RZ) +Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + 2 % urea spray at 70 DAS and T9:RDF+25 kg K+20 kg S+5 kg Zn/ha + RZ + PSB + 5 tons FYM/ha + 2 % urea spray at 70 DAS) on productivity, soil fertility and economics in vertisols of irrigated situation. Application of RDF + 25 kg K + 20 kg S + 5 kg Zn/ha along with seed inoculation with rhizobium + PSB + 2 % urea spray at 70 DAS recorded significantly higher plant height (69.50cm), branches/plant (7.30), pods/plant (80.82), seed index (20.50g), seed yield (2.62 t/ha), net return (Rs. 47,684/ha) and benefit: cost ratio 3.69 over control, RDF, farmer practices and RDF+ 25 K kg/ha. However, treatment RDF + 25 kg K + 20 kg S + 5 kg Zn/ha rhizobium + PSB + 5 t FYM/ha + 2% urea spray at 70 DAS significantly recorded higher available organic carbon (0.65 %), nitrogen (312 kg/ha), phosphorus (12.7 kg/ha), potassium (413 kg/ha), sulphur (20.2 kg/ha) and zinc (1.37 kg/ha) contents in the soil over rest of the treatments. Among the genotypes, 'RSG 973'recorded highest pods/ plant (85.20), seeds/pod (1.50), seed yield (2.51 t/ha), net return( 47,428/ha) and B: C ratio (4.07) remained on par with 'RSG 888' and 'GNG 469' over 'Dahod yellow' and 'GNG 663'.