Influence of Spacing and Phosphorus Management on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the crop research farm, Department of agronomy, Naini agriculture institute, Sam Higginbottom university of agriculture, Technology and sciences, Prayagraj (U.P) India during Rabi season of 2022 to “study the influence of spacing and phosphorus management on growth and yield of chickpea”. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 10 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments consisting of three spacing 25 cm × 25 cm, 35 cm× 20 cm, 45 cm × 20 cm and three levels of Recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP) viz., 50% RDP (20 kg/ha), 75% RDP (30 kg/ha), 100% RDP (40 kg/ha). The soil of the experimental plot was sandy loamy in texture, neutral in soil reaction (pH-7.0), available N (278.93 kg/ha), available P (26.3 kg/ha), available K (223.6 kg/ha). Results revealed that the significantly higher plant height (54.77 cm), dry weight (11.97 g), number of nodules (40.77), number of pods /plant (39.87), number of seeds/pod (1.81), seed index (26.33), harvest index (40.22), seed yield (1.71 t/ha) and stover yield (3.99 t/ha) were recorded with the treatment 35 cm × 20 cm + 100% RDP. Higher gross returns (1,41,646.67 INR/ha), Net returns (99,975.67 INR/ha) and Benefit cost ratio (2.40) were also recorded in the same.