Impact of integrated crop management practices in chickpea on productivity, energy budgeting and employment generation in tribal belt of Rajasthan

Abstract

In the present study impact of integrated crop management (ICM) practices of chickpea were studied at 120 farmers fields which included improved variety GNG 1958, soil treatment with Trichoderma virdae @ 2.5 kg ha-1, seed treatment with insecticide (Chlorpyrifos 20 EC), fungicide (Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% DS) and culture (Rhizobium + PSB), nutrient management (N: P: K: Zn @ 20:40:45:5 kg ha-1), nipping at 40-45 DAS, proper irrigation, weed management and integrated pest management by installation of bird perches and spraying of emamectin benzoate 5 SG at ETL. It is evident from results that the average yields of ICM plots that ranges from 2307-2722 kg ha-1 were higher over the farmers practice (FP) of 1805-2065 kg ha-1 during 2016-17 to 2019-20. Similarly, higher gross return (¹ 96344-137439 ha-1), net return (¹ 67038-105219 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.29 - 3.27) was obtained with ICM plots over the FP during all the years of study. The energy input of ICM plots was 5872.88 MJ ha-1 which is 7.03 % lower that FP (6316.79 MJ ha-1). The per hectare employment generation was higher in ICM plots (41 days) over the FP (30 days). It is concluded that by adopting ICM practices framers can obtain higher yield, net return and can save energy and generate more employment as comparison to exiting farmer’s practices.