Impacts of Foliar Application of Speciality Fertilizers on nutrient uptake of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on the research farm of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry Department, VNMKV, Parbhani during Rabi 2012-13 to study the effect of foliar application of speciality fertilizers on nutrient uptake of chickpea (cv. Akash) production. The experiment was planned in randomized block design. There were total eight treatments given viz; Tl- Absolute control (No fertilizer), T2- Only RDF through soil (25:50:0 NPK kg ha-1), T3- Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) + Water spray (3 sprays), T4 - RDF + KNO3-50 % (3.8 kg ha-1) (2 sprays) at 30 and 45 DAS, T5- RDF + Speedfol pulses-50 % (5 kg ha-1) (2 sprays) at 30 and 45 DAS, T6- RDF + KNO3-100 % (7.5 kg ha-1) (2 sprays) at 30 and 45 DAS, T7- RDF + Speedfol pulses-100 % (10 kg ha-1) (2 sprays) at 30 and 45 DAS and T8- RDF + Grade-II (5 gm lit-1) (3 sprays) at 30, 45 and 60 DAS. Among the treatments the treatment T5 (RDF + Speedfol pulses-50 % (5 Kg ha-1) (2 sprays) at 30 and 45 DAS) and T8- RDF + Grade-II (5 gm lit-1) (3 sprays) at 30, 45 and 60 DAS, showed maximum nutrient uptake. The highest N content in plant (3.02 %) and grain (3.21 %), P content in plant (0.38%) and in grain (0.78%), K content in plant (1.34%) and in grain (0.68 %) of chickpea, S content in plant (0.54 mg kg-1 ) and in grain (2.02 mg kg-1), Cu content in plant (55.23 mg kg-1) and in grain (21.56 mg kg-1) Fe content in plant (45.42 mg kg-1 ) and in grain (41.50 mg kg-1), Mn content in plant (57.10 mg kg-1) and in grain (41.10 mg kg-1), Zn content in plant (131.47 mg kg-1) and in grain (71.37 mg kg-1), Mo content in plant (1.11 mg kg-1) and in grain (14.80 mg kg-1), B content in plant (4.86 mg kg-1) and in grain (10.26 mg kg-1) and the benefit cost ratio was maximum (2.48) in treatment T5 (RDF + Speedfol pulses-50% (5 kg ha-1) (2 sprays at 30 and 45 DAS). Thus, in addition to RDF, the foliar application of speciality fertilizers, potassium nitrate and Grade –II is benefited for higher nutrient uptake and it is also benefited for cost benifit in chickpea.