Rekha Kharra, P. C. Chaplot, J. Choudhary, K. K. Yadav, Virendra Singh and Devendra Jain
Abstract
Pulses are a cost-effective and rich source of protein, often regarded as the cornerstone of nutrition for the vast vegetarian population in India. In addition to their high protein content, pulses provide essential minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber. When consumed in a mixed diet with cereals, pulses offer a superior biological value compared to either food source alone, forming the staple diet of a majority of the Indian population. To explore the impact of integrated nitrogen management practices on nutrient content and uptake in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties, a field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. The experimental design involved a split-plot arrangement with four chickpea varieties as the main plots and four nitrogen management strategies (100% organic, integrated (50% organic + 50% inorganic), integrated (75% organic+ 25% inorganic) and 100% inorganic (recommended dose of fertilizer, RDF) as sub-plots, with three replications. The findings revealed that the chickpea variety GNG 1581 exhibited significantly higher protein content in seeds, protein yield and nitrogen content in both seeds and haulms, statistically at par with GNG 2144 as compared to rest of chickpea varieties. Among the nitrogen management practices, the integrated application of 50% organic and 50% inorganic sources resulted in the highest protein content in seeds, protein yield and nitrogen uptake, although it was statistically on par with the 100% inorganic RDF treatment. These results outperformed both the 100% organic and the 75% organic + 25% inorganic treatments.