Yield, Economics, Nutrient uptake and Quality of Lentil (Lens culinaris L.) as Influence by Salicylic Acid and Potassium Nitrate under Rainfed Condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Utlou, Bishnupur District, Manipur, India during the year 2018-2019 to study the effect of salicylic acid and potassium nitrate on yield, economics and quality of lentil under rainfed conditions. The findings indicated that seed priming of salicylic acid (SA) @ 200 ppm and scaling up of potassium nitrate (KNO3) up to 1.5% as foliar application significantly enhanced the yield (grain yield, stover yield and biomass yield) and economics, nutrient uptake and quality of lentil. The treatment combination salicylic acid @ 200 ppm + KNO3 1.5% gave the maximum grain yield (1104.88 kg/ha), stover yield (1799.06 kg/ha) and biomass yield (2903.95 kg/ha). The gross returns (₹73617), net returns (₹38729) and benefit:cost ratio (2.11) were highest through application of SA @ 200 ppm and KNO3 @ 1.5%. The N, P and K uptake (kg/ha) and protein content of lentil were highest through application of SA @ 200 ppm and KNO3 @ 1.5%.