Effect of zinc and iron nutrition on productivity and profitability of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Central India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2018-19 and 2019-20 to assess the effect of foliar spray of zinc and iron on yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Yield attributes viz., number of pods/plant, number of grains/plant, 1000 seed weight and grain weight per plant were obtained significantly higher under 25 kg ZnSO₄ through soil application. Seed yield (1617 kg/ha), stover yield (4128 kg/ha), gross returns (₹86524/ha) and net returns (₹61370/ha) were recorded significantly superior under 25kg ZnSO₄ through soil application. However, application of 25kg ZnSO₄ through soil application gave 328 kg/ha (25.44%) higher seed yield, ₹18551/ha (27.29%) greater gross returns and ₹15794/ha (34.65%) more net returns over the control. While the Benefit: Cost ratio was obtained significantly higher (3.48) under 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO4 spray at flower initiation stage followed by 25kg ZnSO₄ through soil application (3.43), harvest index was significantly superior under (33.32%) 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO4 spray at flower and pod initiation stage.