Enhancing Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Varieties through Foliar Application of Micronutrients under Field Condition

Deepak Kumar Rawat *

Department of Crop Physiology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, U.P., India.

C. B. Verma

Department of Crop Physiology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, U.P., India.

Sunil Kumar Prajapati

Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110012, India.

Janki Prasad

Department of Crop Physiology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, U.P., India.

Pushpendra Kumar

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, U.P., India.

Bimlesh Kumar Prajapati

Department of Soil Conservation and Water Management, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, U.P., India.

Budhesh Pratap Singh

Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, U.P., India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Extensively, it is imperative to address the pervasive issue of nutrient deficiencies among humans and animals in numerous underdeveloped regions. To tackle this challenge, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of foliar applications of Zinc, Boron, and Iron on the growth, yield attributes, and overall yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties during the Rabi seasons of both 2018-19 and 2019-20. The field experiment was meticulously designed using a Split Plot Design, wherein three distinct chickpea varieties (V1-KGD-1168, V2-Radhey, and V3-KWR-108) were assigned to the main plots. The subplots were dedicated to seven micronutrient treatment combinations, namely (M1-Control), (M2-Zinc @ 0.5%), (M3-Boron @ 0.2%), (M4-Iron @ 0.1%), (M5-Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2%), (M6-Zinc @ 0.5% + Iron @ 0.1%), and (M7: Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2% + Iron @ 0.1%). Consequently, a total of 21 treatment combinations were meticulously replicated three times. The findings of the experiment unveiled that the Radhey variety significantly influenced various parameters, including plant height, the number of branches per plant, fresh plant weight, 100-seed weight (17.21, 17.25g), seed yield (2118, 2228 kg ha-1), gross return (112396, 113628 INR ha-1), net return (83154, 83616 INR ha-1), and the benefit-to-cost ratio (B: C ratio) (2.84, 2.79) of chickpea for both the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Regarding the micronutrient treatments, the foliar application of Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2% + Iron @ 0.1% exhibited a notably positive impact on plant height, the number of branches per plant, fresh plant weight, 100-seed weight (16.94, 16.97g), seed yield (2162, 2276 kg ha-1), gross return (114634, 116076 INR ha-1), net return (85041, 85712 INR ha-1), and B: C ratio (2.87, 2.82) of chickpea during both the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Based on these compelling results, farmers are strongly advised to cultivate the Radhey variety of chickpea while implementing foliar applications of Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2% + Iron @ 0.1% for enhanced growth and higher yields.

Keywords: Chickpea, micronutrients, zinc, boron, iron growth, yield


How to Cite

Rawat , Deepak Kumar, C. B. Verma, Sunil Kumar Prajapati, Janki Prasad, Pushpendra Kumar, Bimlesh Kumar Prajapati, and Budhesh Pratap Singh. 2023. “Enhancing Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Varieties through Foliar Application of Micronutrients under Field Condition”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 13 (10):3066-78. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i102975.