Umesh Singh, Bhagwan Singh, Aditya Prakash Dwivedi, Ashok Kumar Singh, Shatrughna Kumar Singh5 and Dileep Kumar Maurya
Abstract
A rainfed experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13 at Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of diammonium phosphate (DAP) applied through soil and foliage in cognizance with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on productivity and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The application of 50 kg DAP/ha as basal + 50 kg DAP/ha as foliar in 2 splits 45 and 60 days after sowing + PSB significantly increased the growth (plant height, root and shoot dry weight/plant, leaf area/plant) and yield (seed yield, straw yield) of chickpea which in turn recorded highest net return and benefit: cost ratio. However, growth analysis parameters did not show any differential behaviour due to the application of DAP in conjunction with PSB. Thus, split application of 100 kg DAP/ha (½ through soil + ½ through foliage in 2 splits at 45 and 60 DAS) in conjunction with PSB proved effective in enhancing productivity (1,486 kg/ha; 102% increase over the control) and found to be more remunerative and economical for chickpea grown under rainfed conditions.