Effect of Time of Foliar Application of Different Bio-stimulants on Growth, Yield and Economics of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at Shoolini University, Solan during rabi season of 2023-24 to study the effect of time of foliar application of different bio-stimulants on growth, yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction with EC in safer range, higher in organic carbon and phosphorus, medium in available nitrogen and potassium. The field experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising three time of foliar application in main plot viz. (G1) Pre-flowering, (G2) Pod initiation and (G3) Pre-flowering + Pod initiation and four Bio-stimulants in sub-plot viz. (B1) Vermiwash at 10% solution, (B2) Cow urine at 10% solution, (B3) Jeevamrit at 10% solution and (B4) Panchagavya at 3% solution. Recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (30:60:30 kg ha-1) were applied through urea, SSP and MOP, respectively at the time of sowing as basal dose. Himachal Channa-2 variety of chickpea was used for sowing. The results indicated that the foliar application of Panchagavya at 3% solution at Pre-flowering + Pod initiation recorded significantly higher yield attributes and yield and economics viz. number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, grain, straw, biological yield, gross returns, net returns and BCR over rest of the treatments.