Effect of Seaweed Fertilization on Productivity and Profitability of Chickpea in Western Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Seaweed based bio stimulants have become a promising organic input for improving agricultural productivity in recent years. The study aims to evaluate the effect of Seaweed fertilization on productivity and profitability of Chickpea in western Uttar Pradesh, India. The field experiment was carried out during Rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at agriculture Research Farm, Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri, Agra. The study employed a Split Plot Design with two factors viz., three chickpea varieties V1- Pusa-362, V2- IPC 2004-98, and V3- IPC 2005-62 as main plot and six seaweed treatment combination T1- Foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha-1 at pre-flowering stage, T2- Foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha-1 at pre-flowering and pod formation stage, T3- Foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha-1 at pre-flowering, flowering, and pod formation stage,T4- Basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg ha-1 + top dressing of seaweed granules @ 25 kg ha-1 after first irrigation, T5- Basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg ha-1 + foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha-1 at flowering stage, T6- Basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg ha-1 + foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha-1 at flowering and pod formation stage, as sub-plot factor treatment along with granule and water spray and their combination of 18 treatments replicated four times. The analysis showed that among the different varieties and seaweed treatments variety IPC 2005-62 and foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha-1 at pre-flowering, flowering, and pod formation stage, got significantly higher highest yield attributing characters [no. of pod  plant-1, weight of grains (g) plant-1, weight of pod (g) plant-1, no. of grains pod-1, shelling % and seed index], yield [grain yield (kg ha-1), stover yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1) and harvest index] and economics (gross return, net return and B:C Ratio (2.32, 2.47 and 2.45, 2.61) for variety and seaweed treatment during 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively.