Optimizing Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) for Enhanced Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Under Irrigated Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2021-22 at the Agronomy Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. This study attempts to examine how Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) affects chickpea growth, yield and productivity. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a sustainable farming method that improves soil fertility, crop output, and quality by combining biofertilizers, organic and inorganic fertilisers, and other nutrient sources. In addition to providing the necessary plant nutrients, the use of vermicompost as an organic source and biofertilizers such as Rhizobium and PSB (Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria) as living sources in conjunction with inorganic fertilisers has improved the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil and contributed to environmental and soil sustainability. The treatments were as follows: T1: control, T2: 100% RDF (18:48:0 kg ha⁻¹), T3: 100% vermicompost (3.00 t ha⁻¹), T4: 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost (0.75 t ha⁻¹), T5: 50% RDF + 50% vermicompost (1.5 t ha⁻¹), T6: 25% RDF + 75% vermicompost (2.25 t ha⁻¹), T7: 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost (0.75 t ha⁻¹) + biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB), T8: 50% RDF + 50% vermicompost (1.5 t ha⁻¹) + biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB), and T9: 25% RDF + 75% vermicompost (2.25 t ha⁻¹) + biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB). The results indicated that the application of 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost (0.75 t ha⁻¹) combined with biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB) yielded the highest growth attributes, such as plant height (37.5 cm and 77.5 cm at 60 and 120 DAS, respectively) and dry matter accumulation (2.6 g/plant and 21.7 g/plant at 60 and 120 DAS, respectively). This treatment also showed the highest yield attributes, including the number of branches per plant (7.4), number of pods per branch (53.8), number of seeds per pod (2.0), and test weight (14.8 g). The highest grain yield, biological yield, straw yield, gross return and B:C ratio were recorded under the 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost (0.75 t ha⁻¹) + biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB) treatment, followed by the 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost (0.75 t ha⁻¹) and 100% RDF (18:48:0 kg ha⁻¹) treatments. The control treatment produced the lowest grain yield (1395 kg ha⁻¹). The maximum harvest index (45%) was observed in the treatment with 100% vermicompost (3.00 t ha⁻¹). The study highlights that the treatment of 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost (0.75 t ha⁻¹) combined with biofertilizers significantly improved growth attributes and yield components of chickpea. This finding underscores the role of INM in sustainable intensification of chickpea production. (*RDF; Recommended Dose of Fertilizer, *PSB; Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria.).