Integrated Nutrient Management through Biofertiliser and Organic Manure Enhances Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The chickpea crop in Rajasthan is commonly grown under rainfed or limited-irrigation conditions in arid and semi-arid environments. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management involving inorganic fertilisers, organic manures and Rhizobium inoculation on the growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with twelve treatments and three replications during the rabi season of 2025-26 at the Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, located in the Humid South-Eastern Plain Zone. Treatments comprised combinations of the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF: 15 kg N and 40 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost and Rhizobium inoculation. The experimental soil was clay loam in texture and alkaline in reaction, with a pH of 8.2. It was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. Integrated nutrient management significantly influenced the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of chickpea. Among the treatments, 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + Rhizobium (T7) recorded the highest plant height (90.1 cm), dry matter accumulation (35.6 g plant-1) and leaf area index (5.42 at 90 DAS), and was statistically at par with 100% RDF + vermicompost and 100% RDF + FYM. Yield attributes, including branches per plant (7.6), pods per plant (55.8), seeds per pod (2.2) and test weight (14.9 g), were also highest under T7. Accordingly, T7 produced the highest grain yield (2610 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (3520 kg ha⁻¹) and biological yield (6130 kg ha⁻¹), while harvest index remained non-significant across treatments. The findings indicate that 75% RDF combined with vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ and Rhizobium inoculation improved chickpea growth and yield under the tested conditions.