Sustainable enhancement of chickpea productivity through integrated use of vermicompost, biofertilizers, and reduced fertilizer inputs in eastern Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of various organic nutrient management treatments on the growth, yield, and quality parameters of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar Pusa 256. The experiment comprised eight treatments, including control (T₀) and integrated applications of FYM, vermicompost, Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and PSB in various combinations with reduced and recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF). The results revealed that the highest initial plant population (85%) was recorded in T₆, closely followed by T₅ and T₄, while the lowest (76%) was observed in the control (T₀). Plant height showed a significant increase across different growth stages, with T₇ exhibiting the tallest plants (63 cm at 90 DAS). Tiller proliferation was also highest in T₅ and T₄ during early stages and peaked in T₆ at 60 DAS. Maximum stover yield (2365 kg/ha), grain yield (2384 kg/ha), and 1000-grain weight (297.93 g) were recorded in T₇, significantly outperforming other treatments. Similarly, T₇ recorded the highest biological yield per plant (6.15 g), harvest index (40.97%), and protein content (22%), indicating superior crop performance and quality under integrated nutrient application. The study concludes that integrated use of 50% RDF in combination with vermicompost, Azotobacter, and PSB (T₇) significantly enhances growth, yield, and quality attributes of chickpea. These findings are supported by earlier research (Bahl et al., 1989) on chickpea cv. Pusa 256, highlighting the importance of integrated organic nutrient management in sustainable chickpea cultivation.