Effect of Hydrogel and Biofertilizers on Growth, Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Physico-chemical Properties of Soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2024-25 at Agricultural Research Farm, Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) to evaluate the effect of hydrogel and biofertilizer (Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria) application on the growth, yield, soil health, and economic performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under semi-arid conditions. The results revealed that treatments significantly improved plant growth parameters, yield components, and soil properties compared to individual treatments and the control. The treatment T8 (Hydrogel 7.5 kg/ha + Rhizobium + PSB) recorded the highest plant height (46.78 cm), dry matter accumulation (24.88 g/plant), number of nodules (25.12/plant), pods per plant (45.75), seed index (25.45 g) and seed yield (1545 kg/ha). Correspondingly, T8 also improve the soil physical and chemical properties, with reduced bulk and particle densities and enhanced organic carbon and available NPK levels. Economic analysis showed that although T8 incurred the highest cultivation cost (₹35,463/ha), it also resulted in the maximum gross returns (₹77,250/ha), net returns (₹41,787/ha), and benefit-cost ratio (2.18), indicating high profitability. The findings suggest that the combined application of hydrogel and biofertilizers significantly enhances chickpea productivity, soil health, and economic returns, presenting a sustainable approach for chick pea cultivation in moisture-stressed Agro ecosystems.