Effect of irrigation based on IW/CPE ratio and sulphur levels on yield and quality of gram (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during rabi 2010-11 to study the growth, yield and quality of gram as influenced by irrigation and sulphur levels. Irrigation and sulphur have shown significant influence on growth, yield, quality, moisture extraction pattern and water use efficiency. Among four irrigation schedules, irrigation scheduled at 0.9 IW/CPE ratio recorded higher values for all the growth parameters at various stages, yield attributes, grain and stover yield, quality parameters as well as net return and BCR while, 0.7 IW/CPE ratio remained on par. Amount of moisture extracted from surface layers was more irrespective of irrigation treatment. Depletion of soil moisture increased and water use efficiency decreased with increasing frequency of irrigation. Application of 40 kg S ha-1 recorded higher grain yield, protein content and protein yield, net return and BCR and remained on par with 20 kg S ha-1. However interaction between sulphur and irrigation levels, 20 kg S ha-1 and 0.7 IW/CPE has reported higher seed yield, net returns and BCR.