Effect of Phosphorus and Biofertilizers on Yield and Economics of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment to examine the yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was conducted during the Rabi season of 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj, (U.P. India). The experimental plot's soil had a sandy loam texture, a pH of 7.2, was neutral, had an EC-value of 0.26 (dS/m), organic carbon content of 0.72 percent, and availability of 178.48 kg/ha of available N, 27.80 kg/ha of available P, and 233.24 kg/ha of available K. As biofertilizers, Rhizobium sp. (5 g/kg seed), Pseudomonas striata (10 g/kg seed), and PSB (20 g/kg seed) were utilized, while phosphorus (40 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, and 60 kg/ha) was applied in three levels as a fertilizer. Ten treatments were used in the experiment's Randomized Block Design (RBD), which was triple duplicated. Phosphorus treatment (60 kg/ha) + PSB (20 g/kg seed) resulted in highest No. of pods/plant (30.90), No. of seeds/pod (1.53), seed yield (2570.74 kg/ha) and stover yield (3583.33 kg/ha), were all determined to be significant. The treatment (T9) with application of Phosphorus (60 kg/ha) + PSB (20 g/kg seed) also observed maximum gross returns (1, 54,165.87 INR/ha), net returns (1, 13,725.57 INR/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.81) in chickpea crop.