Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietnum) under Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Based Agroforestry System

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an excellent source of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, making it a staple food in many countries, especially in regions where animal protein is scarce. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a sustainable approach aimed at improving soil health and crop productivity. There is a need for a focused investigation into how the two sustainable practices, agroforestry and INM, can be synergistically integrated to optimise chickpea production. This study investigates the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) combined with Moringa-based agroforestry systems on the growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment design used as RBD (Randomised Block Design) included various treatments of INM with Moringa (T5, T7, T12) and compared their effects to the control (T1) and other INM treatments. Results showed that Moringa-based agroforestry systems significantly enhanced chickpea growth, with treatments T5, T7, and T12 recording the highest plant height, number of branches, and grain yield. Specifically, T5 exhibited the highest plant height (45.93 cm), average number of branches (7.64), and grain yield (24.55 q ha-1), with increases of 20.8%, 9.14%, and 20.8%, respectively, over the control. Similarly, the number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, and test weight were significantly higher in these treatments, indicating improved reproductive performance and seed quality. While the harvest index showed no significant differences at (P=0.05), the results suggest that the integration of Moringa agroforestry with INM not only improves plant growth and yield but also contributes to better seed quality. The study demonstrates that the combination of Moringa-based agroforestry and INM is an effective strategy for enhancing chickpea productivity, supporting sustainable farming practices in nutrient-deficient soils.