Effect of Phosphorus, Sulphur and Micronutrients (Zinc and Boron) Levels on Performance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during Rabi, 2013–2014, to study the effect of different treatment combinations on performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The treatments of experiments comprised three fertilizer levels—F1—40 kg P2O5 ha−1, F2—60 kg P2O5 + 20 kg S ha−1 and F3—80 kg P2O5 + 40 kg S ha−1 and four micronutrient levels—M0—control, M1—3 kg Zn ha−1, M2—spraying of boron (0.3%) and M3—3 kg Zn ha−1 + spraying of boron (0.3%) in split plot design with three replications. At higher level of fertilizer (F2—60 kg P2O5 + 20 kg S ha−1) yield attributes, yield performance of chickpea along with soil properties was found better irrespective of the micronutrients applied. Maximum seed yield (22.22 q ha−1) was recorded with the application of fertilizer M3 (3 kg Zn ha−1 + spraying of boron) (0.3%). At every level of fertilizers, micronutrients augmented the yield attributes and yield of the crop along with soil properties. Combined application of micronutrients proved superior to their sole applications with respect to yield and nutrient uptake in chickpea.