ASSESSING CHICKPEA PERFORMANCE IN RESPONSE TO SEAWEED EXTRACT APPLICATION

Abstract

A commercial product derived from seaweed, known as Sagarika granules and Sagarika liquid which play a significant role in regulating plant growth, amino acids, as well as vital macro and micronutrients. The present investigation was carried out with the objective to assess the performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under influence of different doses and methods of application of seaweed extract on growth and yield of chickpea at the Agricultural Research Farm, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand during the Rabi season of 2022-23. The experiment consisted of nine treatments which were replicated three times and laid out in arandomized block design viz. Control (T1), 100% RDF broadcasted (T2), 100% RDF applied in furrow (T3), SWE @ 40 kg/ha broadcasted (T4), SWE @ 40 kg/ha applied in furrow (T5), 75% RDF + SWE @ 10 kg/ha broadcasted + foliar spray of SWE @ 0.25% (T6), 75% RDF + SWE @ 10 kg/ha applied in furrow + foliar spray of SWE @ 0.25% (T7), 50% RDF + SWE @ 20 kg/ha broadcasted + foliar spray of SWE @ 0.25% (T8) and 50% RDF + SWE @ 20 kg/ha applied in furrow + foliar spray of SWE @ 0.25% (T9). Application of 75% RDF + SWE @ 10 kg/ha applied in furrow + foliar spray of SWE @ 0.25% (T7) resulted in significantly higher grain yield, straw yield and biological yield. The grain yield and straw yield were also be found significantly higher by 25.4% and 26.4% over control. Similarly, higher net return and B:C ratio were recorded with the application of 75% RDF + SWE @ 10 kg/ha applied in furrow + foliar spray of SWE @ 0.25% (T7). Hence, it is concluded that application of 75 % RDF + SWE @ 10 kg/ha applied in furrows + foliar spray of 0.25 % of SWE exhibited higher yield and economics.