Effect of Depth of Sowing and Mulching on Rainfed Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Red and Lateritic Belt of West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Availability of soil moisture is a serious bottleneck for successful growing of post monsoon crops in red and lateritic soil. Hence, soil moisture conservation is crucial for post monsoon crops. In this aspect using mulches for conservation of moisture and optimum depth of sowing for proper germination and seedling emergence are important crop management practices in red and lateritic soil. Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three depths of sowing as main-plot treatments and four mulching practices as subplot treatments replicated thrice. Measured growth parameters were plant height (cm), number of branches plant-1, dry matter accumulation (g m-2) and leaf area index (LAI); yield attributes such as effective branches m-2, number of mature pods branch-1, number of seeds pod-1 and seed index; grain and stalk yield. Economics of cultivation was assessed in terms of cost of cultivation, gross and net return and net return per invested. Result: Chickpea sown planted at 7.5 cm depth of sowing recorded maximum yield, consumptive water use efficiency and profitability. Application of 7.5 t ha-1 straw mulch registered significantly higher yield of chickpea, consumptive water use efficiency and profitability.