Effect of foliar application of zinc sulphate and thiourea on productivity and economics of chickpea (Cicer aritenum)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2010–11 at farmers’ fields in Raniwas village of Dausa district of Rajasthan, which falls in agroclimatic zone IIIa (Semi arid eastern plain zone). The study consists four treatments namely T₁-Control (No spray), T₂-0.5% Zinc sulphate spray at vegetative and reproductive stage, T₃-500 ppm thiourea spray at vegetative and reproductive stage, T₄-500 ppm thiourea+ 0.2% zinc sulphate (mixed solution) spray at vegetative and reproductive stage. These four treatments were replicated 10 locations in the year Rabi 2010–11 at farmers fields at Raniwas villages of Dausa district. The results of the experiment indicated that plant height (cm), Number of primary branches and number of total branches, number of pods/plant, grain yield and fodder yield (q/ha) of chickpea was found superior in treatment T₄-500 ppm thiourea + 0.2% zinc sulphate (mixed solution) spray at vegetative and reproductive stage by the tune of 5.89, 21.33, 16.02, 14.51, 24.19 and 16.67 per cent over control, respectively. The grain yield (q/ha) of chickpea was found significantly superior in treatment T₄ (500 ppm thiourea+ 0.2% zinc sulphate (mixed solution) spray at vegetative and reproductive stage) followed by treatment T₂ (0.5% Zinc sulphate spray at vegetative and reproductive stage) being at par with each other found significantly superior over T₃ (500 ppm thiourea spray at vegetative and reproductive stage) and T₁ (control). Treatment T₄ (500 ppm thiourea+ 0.2% zinc sulphate (mixed solution) spray at vegetative and reproductive stage) recorded the significantly higher grain yield (q/ha) by the tune of 16.67, 10.0 and 24.19 per cent over T₃(500 ppm thiourea spray at vegetative and reproductive stage), T₂ (0.5% Zinc sulphate spray at vegetative and reproductive stage) and T₁ (control), respectively. Similarly fodder yield of chickpea was recorded the highest with treatment T₄ which is 19.29 per cent higher over control, followed by treatment T₂ which is 13.15 per cent higher over control. The highest gross returns (Rs 35420/ha), Net returns (Rs 15238/ha) and B:C ratio (1.75) were recorded with the treatment T₄ (500 ppm thiourea+ 0.2% zinc sulphate (mixed solution) spray at vegetative and reproductive stage) while in Treatment T₁ (control) the gross returns (Rs 28420/ha), net returns (Rs 12020/ha) and B:C ratio (1.73) were recorded. The Overall study revealed that the treatment T₄-500 ppm thiourea+ 0.2% zinc sulphate (mixed solution) spray at vegetative and reproductive stage found significantly superior and farmer can increased their yield of chickpea by adopting this technology and gave their input in changing the scenario of green revolution to evergreen revolution.