Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive, winter (rabi) seasons of 2011–12 and 2012–13 to study the effect of diammonium phosphate application through soil and foliage in cognizance with phosphate solubilizing bacteria on morpho-physiological growth indices, yield attributes and yield, nutrient content and seed protein yield of chickpea in silt loam textured reclaimed salt affected (usar) soil under rainfed conditions. The split application of 100 kg DAP/ha (½ through soil+½ through foliage in two splits at 45 and 60 DAS) in conjunction with PSB significantly improved the morpho-physiological growth parameters (plant height, leaf area/plant, number and dry weight of nodules/plant, root and shoot dry weight/plant, leaf area index, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, days taken to 50% flowering, pod formation and maturity), yield attributes (seed weight/plant) and yield, N and P content in seed and straw and seed protein yield except initial and final plant stand, number of primary branches/plant and relative growth rate, whereas leaf area ratio and root: shoot ratio were significantly reduced. Maximum seed (1486 kg/ha) and protein (336 kg/ha) yield was recorded with the application of 100 kg DAP/ha (½ as basal+½ as foliar in two splits at 45 and 60 DAS)+PSB, followed by 1319 kg seed/ha and 292 kg protein/ha with 100 kg DAP/ha (½ as basal+½ as foliar in two splits at 45 and 60 DAS) and 1318 kg seed/ha and 292 kg protein/ha with 100 kg DAP/ha (¾ as basal+¼ as foliar at 45 DAS)+PSB.