Physiological and yield responses of chickpea (Cicer aerietinum L.) to foliar fertilizer application

A field investigation entitled "Effect of Foliar Application of Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)" was conducted during rabi season of 2020-21 at the Experimental Farm of Cotton Research Scheme, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani. The objective was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different fertilizers on the growth and yield of chickpea and to analyse the economics of each treatment. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments replicated thrice. The treatments included were T₁: RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizers: 25:50:25 NPK kg/ha) without spray, T₂ - RDF + 1% Urea, T₃ - RDF + 1% DAP, T₄ - RDF + 1% 19:19:19 NPK, T₅ - RDF + 1% 00:52:34 NPK, T₆ - RDF + 1% 13:00:45 NPK, T₇ - RDF + 1% 13:40:13 NPK, T₈ - Control (no RDF, no spray). Foliar sprays were applied at two critical stages: flowering and pod development. Results indicated that T₄ (RDF + 1% 19:19:19 NPK) recorded the highest seed yield, gross monetary returns (GMR), net monetary returns (NMR), and benefit-cost ratio (B:C), followed closely by T₇ (RDF + 1% 13:40:13 NPK) and T₅ (RDF + 1% 00:52:34 NPK), with statistically non-significant differences among these top treatments. The soil of the experimental site was black cotton soil, clayey in texture, low in organic carbon and nitrogen, medium in phosphorus, and high in potassium, with an alkaline pH. Environmental conditions during the study were favourable for chickpea growth and development. Foliar sprays were applied at two critical stages: flowering and pod development. Results indicated that T₄ (RDF + 1% 19:19:19 NPK) recorded the highest seed yield, gross monetary returns (GMR), net monetary returns (NMR), and benefit-cost ratio (B:C), followed closely by T₇ (RDF + 1% 13:40:13 NPK) and T₅ (RDF + 1% 00:52:34 NPK), with statistically non-significant differences among these top treatments. It can be concluded that foliar application of NPK fertilizers, particularly 1% 19:19:19, 13:40:13, or 00:52:34 in combination with RDF at flowering and pod development stages, significantly enhanced the growth, seed yield, and profitability of chickpea cultivation.