Combined Application of Micronutrients and Biofertilizers on the Yield and Quality of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Vertisols

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third most vital food legume, belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is most frequently grown in the world's semi-arid regions and has a well-branched tap root that grows deep in the soil profile with moisture retained to support growth. A study was carried out to know the effect of different combinations of micronutrients and biofertilizers on dry matter accumulation, protein content, nutrient content and yield in Chickpea in Vertisol at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, during Rabi 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatments, each replicated thrice. Treatments included application of ferrous sulphate @10 kg ha-1, zinc sulphate @10 kg ha-1, borax @ 10 kg ha-1 and sodium molybdate @ 1.0 g kg-1 seeds in various combinations along with the recommended dose (10:25:00 N: P2O5 :K2O kg ha-1). Results of the experiment showed that, the treatment which received RDF + Rhizobium + PSB (@ 1250 g ha-1) + FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + ZnSO4@ 10 kg ha-1 +Borax @ 10 kg ha-1 + Sodium molybdate @ 1.0 g kg-1 seeds (T8 ) resulted in significantly higher dry matter accumulation, protein content, nutrient content, grain yield (1591.40), straw yield (1350 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.54) in chickpea at harvest of the crop whereas significant lower values for these were observed in treatment where fertilizers were applied as per recommended dose. Thus, the combined application of RDF (10:25:00 N: P2O5 :K2O kg ha-1) + Rhizobium + PSB (@ 1250 g ha-1) + FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + ZnSO4@ 10 kg ha-1 + Borax @ 10 kg ha-1 + Sodium molybdate @ 1.0 g kg-1 seeds, found optimum for higher productivity of chickpea in Vertisols.