Effect of different fertility levels and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh

The present experiment titled “Effect of different fertility levels and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during rabi season of 2023-24 at Kalaghat Agriculture Farm (Located at an elevation of 1,270 meters above mean sea level lying between latitude 30º51’67.26.9 N and longitude 77º09’29.6 E), MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction in reaction with EC in safer range, medium in organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The field experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising 12 treatments viz. In main plot (F1) Control, (F2) 75% RDF, (F3) 100% RDF and (F4) 125% RDF, in sub plot (B1) Rhizobium, (B2) PSB, (B3) Rhizobium + PSB with three replications. Result reveled that among the fertility levels significantly higher values of growth characters yield attributes and yield along with higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were recorded under application of (F4) 125% RDF which was statistically at par with (F3) 100% RDF over the rest of the treatments. In case of bio-fertilizers, significantly higher growth characters, yield attributes and yield along with higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were recorded under application of (B3) Rhizobium + PSB under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh.