Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Dr. GP Banjara and Pallavi Porte

Abstract:
The present investigation “Effect of Hydrogel and Foliar nutrition sprays on seed yield and economics of chickpea under rainfed situation in Chhattisgarh plains” was conducted at Instructional Cum Research Farm of IGKV, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) during Rabi season in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The soil was clayey (Vertisols) in texture, locally known as “Kanhar”. The experiment comprised of 2 hydrogel levels (i.e. 0 & 5.0 kg/ha) were kept in main plots and 5 levels of foliar nutrition (i.e. water spray (control), urea 2%, thiourea 500 ppm, salicylic acid 100 ppm & NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.5%) in sub plots. Hydrogel was putted 4-5 cm deep into the soil before chickpea sowing and subsequently foliar nutrition were sprayed flower initiation and pod development stages. Result revealed that application of hydrogel 5.0 kg/ha before sowing recorded significantly higher seed yield (1680.05 and 1716.91 kg/ha), stover yield (2610.22 and 2664.81 kg/ha) and net return (Rs. 52893.26 and 54606.73/ha) during both the years and on mean basis respectively. While, maximum B: C ratio (2.17 and 3.25) during both the years and on mean basis was fetched with 0 kg/ha hydrogel. Foliar application of urea 2% at flower initiation & pod development stages recorded significantly higher seed yield (1714.10 and 1756.36 kg/ha), stover yield (2642.35 and 2691.86 kg/ha), net return (Rs. 56709.70 and 58661.14/ha) and B:C ratio (2.45 and 3.55) during both the years and on mean basis which was at with thiourea 500 ppm over water spray and salicylic acid 100 ppm, respectively.