Effect of potassium application on growth, yield and quality of chickpea cultivars

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2018-19 at experimental farm of Department of Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Badnapur using chickpea as a test crop to study effect of potassium on Chickpea varieties. The experiment was conducted in factorial randomized block design with two factors viz., four varieties (V1-Digvijay, V2-BDNG-797, V3-JAKI-9218 and V4-Phule Vikram) and four fertilizer levels (Control i.e.RDF -25:50:00 kg NPK ha-1(F1), RDF + Potassium @ 30 kg ha-1 (F2), RDF+ 2 Foliar spray of KNO3 @ 1% at flowering and pod formation stage (F3), RDF+ Potassium @ 30 kg ha-1 + 2 Foliar spray of KNO3 @ 1% at flowering and pod formation stage (F4)) with 16 treatments combinations. Each experimental unit was replicated two times. Amongst different varieties Phule Vikram was effective in recording highest growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of chickpea. Digvijay recorded maximum protein and seed index. The results emerged out clearly indicated that various parameters like plant height, number of pods, number of nodules, dry matter kg ha-1, protein, seed yield and straw yield was increased due to application of potassium. It was inferred from the results that application of RDF+ Potassium @ 30 kg ha-1 + 2 Foliar spray of KNO3 @ 1% at flowering and pod formation stage showed synergistic effects on nutrients (N, P and K) uptake. Soil fertility was also found to be improved due to application of potassium to chickpea varieties.