Response of Row Spacing, Bio-fertilizer and Nitrogen Levels on Yield Attributes and Quality Parameters of Chickpea (Cicer arietnium L.) under Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

to find out the response of row spacing, bio-fertilizer and nitrogen levels on yield attributes i.e. number of pods /plant, number of seeds/pod 1000-seed weight, protein content in (% & kg/ha), nodules/plant and fresh & dry weight (mg) of nodules/plant of chickpea crop. The treatments comprised of 2 row spacing i.e. 40 cm and 60 cm, 3 biofertilizer i.e. Rhizobium leguminosarum culture (seed coating @ 20 g kg -1 seed), Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) @ 2.5 kg ha -1 in soil and Rhizobium leguminosarum + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and 3 nitrogen level i.e. N10 kg ha -1 , N20 kg ha -1 and N30 kg ha -1 in Split plot design with 3 replications. Results obtained in regarded to yield attributes and protein content showed that the 60 cm row spacing produced significantly higher yield attributes in both the years on pooled basis recorded number of pods/plant (57.57), number of seeds /pod (1.72), 1000-seed weight (147.64 g), nodules/plant (28.08), fresh & dry weight nodules/plant (76.58 and 44.37 mg ) and protein content in per cent (21.06) but maximum recorded protein in kg/ha under 40 cm row spacing (295.86 kg/ha). Among the bio-fertilizer the performance of dual inoculation of Rhizobium leguminosarum culture + PSB was the best & have recorded significantly superior number of pods /plant (57.61), number of seeds /pod (1.89), 1000-seed weight (148.75)nodules/plant (29.70), fresh & dry weight nodules/plant (81.34 and 48.12 mg) and protein content in per cent (21.26)& (302.02) kg /ha. However nitrogen level @ 30 kg ha -1 recorded significantly higher on number of pods /plant (147.64 g), number of seeds /pod (1.97), 1000-seed weight (149.47g), nodules/plant (30.54), fresh & dry weight nodules/plant (81.34 and 48.12 mg) and protein content in per cent (21.15)& (313.22) kg /ha. Nitrogen levels 30 kg ha -1 was found superior in all respect as compared to other treatments combinations. K e y w o r d sPhosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Rhizobium leguminosarum culture and protein content

Nodulation, Yield and Economics of Machine Planted Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Varied Spacing and Nutrient Management

“…Improved protein content with wider spacing (45 cm) resulted in less competition between individual plants for nutrients that improved the absorption thereby increasing the protein content. Kumar et al (2020) also reported higher protein content under wider spacing. Ability of the crop to convert inorganic N into protein in the seed is more efficient with enhanced N application.…”