Effect of irrigation levels and biodegradable polymers on growth and productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Effect of irrigation levels and bio degradable polymer on growth and productivity of chickpea” was conducted at School of Agricultural Sciences, JRNRVU, Dabok, Udaipur during rabi season 2024-25. The experiment consisted of twelve treatment combinations comprising four Irrigation levels (No irrigation, Irrigation at pre flowering, Irrigation at pod formation, Irrigation at pre flowering and pod formation) and three levels of Biodegradable polymer (0, 10, and 20 kg ha-1). Combination of these treatments were evaluated under Split Plot Design with four replications. Chickpea variety Ankur was sown on 18th November 2024. The results revealed that the maximum growth attribute (plant height, dry matter accumulation, number nodules plant-1) and yield attributes (number of pods plant-1 number of seeds pod-1, seed weight, maximum number of primary and secondary branches plant-1) were recorded with irrigation at both pre-flowering and pod formation which was significantly superior over irrigation at pre flowering and pod formation but at par with irrigation at pod formation. The maximum seed yield (1807 kg ha-1) was obtained with irrigation at both pre-flowering and pod formation, which was significantly superior over no irrigation but at par with irrigation at pre-flowering and irrigation at pod formation. Similar trends were also observed with respect to haulm and biological yield. The highest consumptive use of water (320.7 mm) was recorded with two irrigation at pre flowering and pod formation stages water use efficiency for seed and haulm was decreased due two irrigation at pre flowering and pod formation (5.64 and 10.72 kg/mm/ha) as compared to control. Irrigation at both pre-flowering and pod formation fetched maximum net return (65531 ₹ ha-1) and BC ratio (1.39). Application of biodegradable polymer brought about significant improvement in growth and yield of chickpea. The highest yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1 (92.96), number of seed pod-1 (2.30), 100 seed weight (18.29 g), number of primary branches (6.02) and secondary branches plant-1 (12.42) was recorded with the application of 10 and 20 kg biodegradable polymer ha-1. Application 10 and 20 kg BDP ha-1 gave significantly higher seed yield by 4.1 and 8.3 per cent over control (1556 kg ha-1) but at par with each other. Similar trends were noted with respect to haulm and biological yield. Consumptive use of water was decreased by 10.88 and 21.19 mm with the application of 10 and 20 kg biodegradable polymer ha-1, respectively as compared to control (no biodegradable polymer). Application of 10 and 20 kg biodegradable polymer ha-1 increased water use efficiency by 8.6 and 17.7 per cent, respectively as compared to no biodegradable polymer. However, a significant reduction in net return and B:C was observed with the application of 10 and 20 biodegradable polymer ha-1 over control.