Salicylic Acid and Biochar effect on Growth, Growth Efficiency, Yield and Quality of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Rainfed Condition

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital pulse crop in India, cultivated across diverse agro-climatic regions with minimal inputs. However, its productivity often falls short of its potential due to its cultivation on marginal lands under rainfed conditions. Salicylic acid and biochar are recognized for their role in mitigating abiotic stress and enhance soil health were evaluated for their combined impact on chickpea productivity under such conditions. A factorial randomized block design was implemented in three replications with 12 treatment combinations including water spray, three concentrations of salicylic acid (50, 100 and 150 ppm) and three biochar levels (control, 1 and 2 t ha-1). Foliar applications of salicylic acid were performed at the flower initiation and pod-filling stages. The results demonstrated that the combined application of salicylic acid at 100 ppm and biochar at 2 t ha-1enhanced the growth parameters, yield and quality attributes of chickpea compared to conventional practices. This study highlights the potential of integrating salicylic acid and biochar as sustainable approaches to enhance chickpea production, particularly in resourceconstrained and rainfed systems.