Response of row spacing, bio-fertilizer and nitrogen levels on yields and economics of chickpea (Cicer aritenium L.) under central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive years of rabi 2014-15 and 2015-16 at Soil Conservation and Water Management farm of the C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur to find out the response of row spacing, bio-fertilizer and nitrogen levels on yields i.e. seed yield, stover yield, harvest index and economics of chickpea crop. The treatments comprised of 2 row spacing i.e. 40 cm and 60 cm, 3 bio-fertilizer 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. 10 kg ha-1, 20 kg ha-1 and 30 kg ha-1 in Split plot design with 3 replications. Results obtained in regarded to yields and economics showed that the 40 cm row spacing produced significantly higher yield in both the years on pooled basis recorded seed yield (14.22 q ha-1), stover yield (20.20 q ha-1), harvest index (41.16%), gross return ₹ 75593 ha-1, net return ₹ 56972 ha-1 and B.C. ratio 1:3.07. Among the bio-fertilizer the performance of dual inoculation of Rhizobium leguminosarum culture + PSB was the best & have recorded significantly superior seed yield (14.33 q ha-1), stover yield (19.15 q ha-1), harvest index (42.48%), gross return ₹ 76047 ha-1, net return ₹ 58225 ha-1 and B.C. ratio 1:3.27. However nitrogen level @ 30 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher on seed yield (14.83 q ha-1), stover yield (19.97 q ha-1), harvest index (42.83%), gross return ₹ 78728 ha-1, net return ₹ 60994 ha-1 and B.C. ratio1:3.44. Nitrogen levels 30 kg ha-1 was found superior in all respect as compared to other treatments combinations.