Effect of Organic Manures and Micronutrient Application on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop; however, its productivity is frequently constrained by low soil organic matter content and micronutrient deficiencies. In this context, a field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2025–26 at the Agricultural Farm of Career Point University, Alaniya, Kota (Rajasthan), to assess the effects of organic manures and foliar-applied micronutrients on the growth and yield performance of chickpea (variety GNG 1581). The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomised block design (FRBD) comprising 12 treatment combinations with three replications. The treatments included three levels of organic manure (control, vermicompost at 2.0 t ha⁻¹, and farmyard manure (FYM) at 5 t ha⁻¹) and four foliar micronutrient applications (control, zinc at 0.5%, boron at 0.2%, and iron at 0.2%). The experimental soil was clay loam in texture, alkaline in reaction (pH 8.35), and characterised by low organic carbon content. Results indicated that the application of Vermicompost @ 2.0 t ha-1 significantly enhanced all growth attributes, recording the highest plant height (45.60 cm), number of branches per plant (9.65), and dry matter accumulation (34.90 g) at harvest. Yield studies further demonstrated the superiority of this treatment, which registered the maximum grain yield (1980 kg ha-1), straw yield (3680 kg ha-1), and harvest index (34.98%) over FYM @ 5 t ha-1 and the control. Among the micronutrient treatments, the foliar application of Zinc @ 0.5% consistently outperformed the others. It maximized vegetative growth, leading to the highest plant height (45.45 cm), branches per plant (9.70), and dry matter accumulation (35.20 g). Consequently, the Zinc treatment also produced the highest grain yield (2010 kg ha-1), straw yield (3710 kg ha-1), and harvest index (35.13%), significantly surpassing the Boron, Iron, and control treatments. The strategic integration of Vermicompost @ 2.0 t ha-1 and foliar Zinc @ 0.5% emerged as the most effective nutrient management approach for optimizing the overall growth and yield of chickpea.