Effect of seaweed treatments on growth and quality of chickpea in western Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during Rabiseason of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at agriculture Research Farm, Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri, Agra. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design along with two factor viz.,threechickpea varietiesV₁- Pusa-362,V₂- IPC 2004-98, and V₃- IPC 2005-62 as main plot and six seaweed treatment combinationT₁-Foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml/ha at pre-floweringstage,T₂- Foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml/ha at pre-flowering and pod formation stage, T₃- Foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml/ha at pre-flowering, flowering, and pod formation stage,T₄- Basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg/ha + top dressing of seaweed granules @ 25 kg/ha after first irrigation,T₅- Basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg/ha + foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml/ha at flowering stage, T₆- Basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg/ha + foliar application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml/ha at flowering and pod formation stage, as sub-plot factortreatment along with granule and water spray and their combination of 18 treatments replicated four times. Result revealed that higher AGR for plant height, volume of seed, swelling index and hydration index were recorded in veriety IPC 2004-98 and AGR for dry weight and RGR were recorded in variety IPC 2005-62 at all the growth stages. Seaweed granule and extract that are able to induce vegetative growth of chickpea. At the time of sowing basal application of seaweed granules @ 25 kg ha^-1 increase the AGR for plant height, AGR for dry weight and RGR up to 30 DAS and application of seaweed extract @ 750 ml ha^-1 at pre-flowering, flowering and pod formation stages was also increase plant growth. AGR for plant height, AGR for dry weight and RGR were increases at different stages of seaweed extract application. Application of seaweed extract at pre flowering stages increase higher plant growth than flowering and pod formation stages. Seaweed granule and seaweed extract did not significantly effect on volume of seed, swelling index and hydration index.