Effect of Phosphorus, Zinc and Rhizobium on Productivity and Profitability of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pardesh

Field experiments were conducted to study the Effect of phosphorus, zinc and rhizobium on yield and profibility of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at students instructional farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur. The treament consists of three levels of phosphorus (0, 30 and 60 kg ha-1), three levels of zinc (0,2.5, 5.0 kg ha-1) and two levels of rhizobium inoculation (with and without rhizobium) totally eighteen treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in Factorial randomized block design with three replications. N @ 20 kg ha-1 and K @ 20 kg ha-1 applied uniformly through urea and murate of potash respectively The experiment was laid out in Factorial randomized block design with three replications. Chickpea variety RVG-202 was grown with the recommended agronomic practices. Results of the experiment reflected that yield of chickpea crop increased with the use of phosphorus, zinc and rhizobium inoculation. Maximum grain yield 20.89 kg ha-1, stover yield 25.26 kg ha-1, biological yield 46.15 kg ha-1 and harvest index 45.27% were recorded under T18 (60 kg P+5 kg Zn ha-1 rhizobium innoculation) over control during second year. But, significantly increased T17 (60 kg P+2.5 kg Zn ha-1+ rhizobium innoculation) during both years (2020-21 and 2021-22). The maximum cost of cultivation (₹ 36615.23), gross return (₹ 115380), net return (₹ 78764.77) and B:C ratio (2.15) were recorded under T18 (60 kg P+5 kg Zn ha-1 rhizobium innoculation). The present study showed that combined application of phosphorus and zinc with rhizobium inoculation along with recommended nitrogen and potassium could be an effective option for enhancing chickpea yield component, yield and economic return.