Enhancing Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Varieties through Foliar Application of Micronutrients under Field Condition

Extensively, it is imperative to address the pervasive issue of nutrient deficiencies among humans and animals in numerous underdeveloped regions. To tackle this challenge, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of foliar applications of Zinc, Boron, and Iron on the growth, yield attributes, and overall yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties during the Rabi seasons of both 2018-19 and 2019-20. The field experiment was meticulously designed using a Split Plot Design, wherein three distinct chickpea varieties (V1-KGD-1168, V2-Radhey, and V3-KWR-108) were assigned to the main plots. The subplots were dedicated to seven micronutrient treatment combinations, namely (M1-Control), (M2-Zinc @ 0.5%), (M3-Boron @ 0.2%), (M4-Iron @ 0.1%), (M5-Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2%), (M6-Zinc @ 0.5% + Iron @ 0.1%), and (M7: Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2% + Iron @ 0.1%). Consequently, a total of 21 treatment combinations were meticulously replicated three times. The findings of the experiment unveiled that the Radhey variety significantly influenced various parameters, including plant height, the number of branches per plant, fresh plant weight, 100-seed weight (17.21, 17.25g), seed yield (2118, 2228 kg ha-1), gross return (112396, 113628 INR ha-1), net return (83154, 83616 INR ha-1), and the benefit-to-cost ratio (B: C ratio) (2.84, 2.79) of chickpea for both the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Regarding the micronutrient treatments, the foliar application of Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2% + Iron @ 0.1% exhibited a notably positive impact on plant height, the number of branches per plant, fresh plant weight, 100-seed weight (16.94, 16.97g), seed yield (2162, 2276 kg ha-1), gross return (114634, 116076 INR ha-1), net return (85041, 85712 INR ha-1), and B: C ratio (2.87, 2.82) of chickpea during both the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Based on these compelling results, farmers are strongly advised to cultivate the Radhey variety of chickpea while implementing foliar applications of Zinc @ 0.5% + Boron @ 0.2% + Iron @ 0.1% for enhanced growth and higher yields.

Effect of Row Ratio and Planting Methods on Growth, Water Use Efficiency, Yield and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.)

This study examines the intercropping system of wheat and mentha involves the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops on the same piece of land for higher land productivity. Japanese mint, a member of the Lamiaceae family, has a potent essential oil. Oil extracted from the leaves for use in aromatherapy, food flavouring, and medicine. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Row ratio and Planting methods on Growth, Yield Performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.) was conducted during 2016-17 at the Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm to investigate the response of mentha when intercropped with wheat under various row ratio and planting methods. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replication keeping one variety of Mentha ‘Shivalik’& Wheat ‘Unnat Halna’. The experiment consisting of nine treatments are T1: Sole Mentha direct sowing (50cm apart), T2: Sole Mentha transplanting (50cm apart), T3: Sole Wheat (25cm apart), T4: Wheat+Mentha (d, 1:1), T5: Wheat+Mentha (t, 1:1), T6:Wheat+Mentha (d, 2:2), T7:Wheat+Mentha (t, 2:2), T8: Wheat Paired+Mentha (d, 2:3), T9: Wheat Paired+Mentha (t, 2:3). The results indicated that Sole Wheat (T3) had the highest plant population (662.40 initially, 326 final), plant height (83.80 cm), and grain yield (39.80 q/ha) for wheat. In the case of mentha, Wheat Paired+Mentha (T8) exhibited the maximum final plant population (119.43), plant height (72.51 at maturity), and equivalent oil yield (189.05 l/ha). Wheat Paired+Mentha (T8) also recorded the highest total water use (647 mm), water use efficiency (0.292 kg/ha/mm of water), land equivalent ratio (1.50), and economic parameters such as gross return (228,868), net return (160,828), and B:C ratio (3.36). The maximum oil yield (163.35 l/ha) was found in Sole Mentha direct sowing (T1).

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on the Morphology, Flowering, Maturity, Yield Attributes, and Yield of Lentil (Lens culinaris L. Medik.)

Comprehensively, nutrient deficiencies in humans and animals are a quiet epidemic in many underdeveloped nations. Nutrient deficiencies in humans and animals are a global problem in most developing countries. Lentil is one of the most important and nutritious Rabi pulse in India. It’s a leguminous crop that improves the soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. In this contest an experiment was conducted to study the enhancement of plant growth, chlorophyll content, flowering, yield and seed protein content by plant growth regulators in DPL-62 lentil (Lens culinaris L. Medik) variety during two Rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21. The field experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD). Five growth regulators viz. triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), gibberellic acid (GA3), cytokinin, indole acetic acid (IAA), and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were used in Eleven treatments were tested T1: Control, T2: 25 ppm TIBA, T3: 50 ppm TIBA, T4: 25 ppm GA3, T5: 50 ppm GA3, T6: 5 ppm Cytokinin, T7: 10 ppm Cytokinin, T8: 25 ppm IAA, T9: 50 ppm IAA, T10: 25 ppm NAA, T11: 50 ppm NAA. The results revealed that the maximum plant height (38.12 & 38.15 cm at harvest) was obtained by the 50 ppm GA3 followed by 50 ppm IAA (37.00 & 38.10 cm at harvest) spray at all stages. However, the 50 ppm TIBA showed better results (per plant) viz., number of branches (15.00, 15.33 at 110DAS), leaf area (86.50, 86.32 at 110DAS), number of pods (160.20, 160.37), pod setting (65.45, 65.50%), seed weight (2.02, 2.10g), test weight (27.32, 27.39g) and seed yield (1500.00, 1510.00 kg ha-1) of lentil as compared to all other treatments. The maximum days of flowering (67.50, 67.85) and days of maturity. On the basis of the observed results the growing of DPL-60 lentil variety with foliar applications of 50 ppm TIBA is recommended for the farmers of the test area for greater production and profitability.

Response of Different Levels of Salicylic Acid on Growth Characteristics, Chlorophyll Content, Yield Attributes and Yield of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) under Rainfed Condition

To study the response of different levels of salicylic acid on growth characteristics, chlorophyll intensity, yields attributes and yield of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) under rainfed conditions. The field experiment was conducted at Department of Crop Physiology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India during kharif season in the year 2017-18. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 Treatments replicated thrice and assigned in 30 plots. The treatment comprised as T1: Control, T2: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 50 ppm at 20 DAS, T3: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 50 ppm at 40 DAS, T4: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 50 ppm at 60 DAS, T5: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 100 ppm at 20 DAS, T6: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 100 ppm at 40 DAS, T7: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 100 ppm at 60 DAS, T8: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 150 ppm at 20 DAS, T9: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 150 ppm at 40 DAS, T10: Foliar application of salicylic acid @ 150 ppm at 60 DAS. The results showed significant increments in Growth attributes, relative water content (%), chlorophyll intensity (SPAD meter value), yield and yield attributes viz., plant height (36.50 and 38.10 cm) at 70 DAS and maturity, number of leaves plant-1(8.66, 23.66 and 22.0) at 35, 70 DAS and maturity, number of branches plant-1 (3.9, 8.60 and 10.33) at 35, 70 DAS and maturity, dry weight of plant-1(2.76, 6.12 and 5.01 g) at 35, 70 DAS and maturity, dry weight of stem plant-1(2.76, 7.12 and 7.96 g) at 35, 70 DAS and maturity, total dry weight of plant (4.96, 13.24 and 21.97 g) at 35, 70 DAS and maturity, total leaf area plant-1 (211.33 and 384.87 cm-2) at pre and post flowering, Relative water content (51.50 and 43.43) at Pre and post flowering, Chlorophyll content (49.93 and 40.90) at pre and post flowering, Number of pods plant-1 (46.00) at maturity, Dry weight of pods plant-1 (8.99g) at maturity, seed yield plant-1 (6.66 g), 100-Seed weight (4.41 g), Harvesting index (30.30%), Grain Yield (10.35 q ha-1) with the foliar application of salicylic acid @ 150 ppm at 60 DAS while minimum in control. The addition of salicylic acid under rainfed conditions resulted in significant increments in growth parameters, chlorophyll intensity, yield and yield attributes of black gram in rainfed conditions. Thus, it may be concluded that the foliar application of salicylic acid @ 150 ppm was found to be optimum concentration in enhancing growth and yield of a black gram over rest of treatment under rainfed conditions.