Rishabh Singh, Alok Kumar Pandey, Mahendra Singh, Vikas Yadav and Anupama Singh
Abstract
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a common dietary legume grown for protein in temperate, tropical, and subtropical climates. The present study was aimed at assessing the effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on soil health parameters under Kabuli chickpea in the experimental field trial conducted during the Rabi season of 2024. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Data were recorded for key traits, including nutrient content and uptake followed by economic evaluation. Significant differences were observed among treatments with respect to various nutrient contents and uptake by Kabuli chickpea. Treatment T5 comprising of a combination of FYM @ 2t ha-1, Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1, PROM @ 350 Kg ha-1 and KSB biofertilizer @10 ml Kg-1 seed showed best results in terms of highest values for nitrogen content in grain (3.41%) and chickpea straw/ stover (1.34%); total nitrogen uptake (109.92 kg/ha); phosphorous content in grain (0.53%) and straw/ stover (0.19%); total phosphorous uptake (16.54 kg/ha); potassium content in grain (1.71%) and straw (1.34%); and total potassium uptake (80.04 kg/ha). The results were statistically comparable to T7, which included FYM@ 2 t ha-1, poultry manure (@ 1 t ha-1 and KSB, but significantly higher than the control treatment (T1) and the other treatments, T2, T3, T4, and T6. The benefit cost ratio was calculated to be highest (1.63) under treatment T7 which involve the combination of (FYM @ 2 t ha-1 + poultry manure @ 1 t ha-1 + KSB @ 10 ml Kg-1 seed). From this study it can be concluded that Vermicompost, Farmyard Manure (FYM), Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM), and Potassium Solubilizing Microbes (KSM) all work synergistically to improve soil fertility, nutrient content (N, P, and K), and plant absorption of these nutrients.