Influence of Residual Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on Chickpea Yield and Nutrient Dynamics in Maize-chickpea Cropping Sequence

Pulses holding a distinctive place in Indian agriculture, as well as an essential component of food grain crops due to their high nutrient content. In developing nations, pulses are often referred to as the poor man’s meat due to their affordability and high protein content, whereas in developed countries, they are regarded as a “health food” for their nutritional benefits and role in a balanced diet (Rani and Krishna, 2016). Pulses provide about 345 kcal per 100 g and every individual needs 50-60 g of pulses per day. Thus, it is crucial to include pulse crops in cropping systems in order to create nutrient-dense food for the vegetarian population (Singh et al., 2022). Pulses are predominantly grown under low-input conditions, typically on marginal and sub-marginal lands with limited energy and resource availability (Sodavadiya et al., 2023). The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.,) is India’s top-ranked pulse crop and is essential for completing the protein needs of vegetarian diet. Chickpea is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean or Fertile Crescent region, where it was first domesticated. From there, it spread to secondary centers of diversity, including Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent and East Africa, particularly Ethiopia (Mohsenzadeh, 2024). In India, chickpea is widely grown as a winter crop, particularly in the northern provinces. It contains high levels of b-carotene, fiber, carbs, vitamins and minerals (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc) in addition to having a high protein content (Singh et al., 2022). As a result, it lessens malnutrition and enhances human health for the underprivileged who cannot buy animal-derived foods. Chickpea seeds serve both food and feed purposes due to their exceptional nutritional profile and high content of beneficial bioactive compounds like phenolics and flavonoids (Kumari and Malik, 2024). Despite the fact that chickpeas fix atmospheric nitrogen, there is compelling evidence to suggest that applying nitrogen fertilizer boosts seed output, particularly for amino acids and seed protein. To achieve better seed quality and a greater yield, it needs less nitrogen fertilizer than other crops (Dhima et al., 2015).

Chemical fertilizers cannot be completely avoided as they may provide significant amounts of easily accessible nutrients. Crop production suffers when chemical fertilizers are overused and applied for extended periods of time because they deteriorate the quality of the soil (Pahalvi et al., 2021).Apart from improving soil health, organic manures meet the requirements for both macro and micronutrients (Antil and Raj, 2020). Balanced nutrient management, following the principles of integrated plant nutrition, is considered one of the most effective strategies to boost crop productivity while maintaining long-term soil fertility (Patil et al., 2024). For the purpose of producing chickpea, a proper combination of chemical fertilizer and organic manure needs to be created.

To maintain soil health and production, different nutrients must be used carefully in combination using both organic and inorganic sources (Sharma et al., 2022). A tried-and-true strategy for increasing crop yield, soil organic matter (SOM), microbial activity, soil sustainability and the amount of major and micronutrients in the soil that plants can access is the application of well-decayed FYM in soil management techniques (Dhaliwal et al., 2021). Declining agricultural output and soil health, as well as growing expenses for inorganic fertilizers, can all be resolved by applying the right amount and combination of nutrients using both organic and inorganic methods (Titirmare et al., 2023). Thus, soil fertility and productivity may be maintained with judicious application of Integrated nutrient management (INM).

The experimental trial was carried out at the Agricultural Farm of Lovely Professional University in kharif and Rabi 2023-24. The experimental location is situated in subtropical zone with hot summers and cool winters. During experiment period temperature range of 4-37^oC  and 650 mm of rainfall was recorded. Twelve combinations of treatments were used in the experiment, using a split-plot design (SPD) with three replication for maize crop. The combinations included four RDF levels (Control, 50, 75 and 100% RDF ha^-1) and three FYM levels (Control, 5 and 10 tonnes ha^-1). The well-decayed FYM @ 5 and 10 t ha^-1 were incorporated 15 days before to maize sowing. To find out the residual effect of INM, 50% RDF (10 kg N, 20 kg P and 0 kg K ha^-1) applied to chickpea at sowing using urea and single super phosphate (SSP).

In order to quantify the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, representative plant samples were taken during harvest, oven dried for 48 hours at 105^oC and then grind into a fine powder. Concentrations of N, P and K were determined for each plot’s seed and straw yield during harvest to determine the uptake of each nutrient. The uptake was calculated by Nutrient uptake (kg ha^-1) = Content of specific nutrient (%) x Yield of seed or straw (kg ha^-1)/100. The observations made during the investigation were tabulated and subjected through analysis of variance procedures in accordance with Gomez and Gomez (1984) procedure.

Yield attributes
 
Yield attributes of chickpea were significantly impacted by the residual effect of varying inorganic fertilizers and FYM levels as showed by the data presented in Table 1. At harvest, maximum pods plant^-1 (56.21), weight of pods plant^-1 (33.20 g), seed yield (19.94 q ha^-1) and biological yield (52.25 q ha^-1) was noted under 100% RDF which was significantly superior over 50%, 75% RDF and control. Meanwhile highest test weight (29.46 g) and straw yield (32.31 q ha^-1) was observed in 100% RDF which was significantly greater over 50% RDF and control but found statistically at par with 75% RDF. Highest value of harvest index was observed in 100% RDF (38.13%) which was significantly higher over control but statistically at par with 50% and 75% RDF. In terms of FYM levels, highest number of pods plant^-1 (47.28), weight of pods plant^-1 (30.22 g), seed yield (17.10 q ha^-1), straw yield (28.62 q ha^-1) and biological yield (45.72 q ha^-1) was noted under 10t ha^-1 FYM which showed significant superiority over 5t ha^-1 FYM and control. Meanwhile highest test weight (28.76 g) and harvest index (37.10%) was observed in 100% RDF, which was significantly superior over control but found at par with 5 t ha^-1 FYM.



The study found that interaction between two factors i.e. residual effect of different RDF and FYM levels was found significant in number of pods plant^-1, seed yield, straw yield and biological yield but it was found that non significant in weight of pods plant^-1, test weight and harvest index (Table 2). These results are in conformity with the findings of Gudadhe et al.  (2011).



The amount of chickpea pods increased when organic manures were added to the previous crop and this can be linked to the build-up of residual soil fertility resulting from addition of organic manures. The combination of RDF and FYM resulted in a higher number of pods might be due to improvement in root development, energy translocation and plant growth metabolism, all of which boost photosynthetic translocation towards sink (Singh et al., 2017). These results are corroborate with Gudadhe et al., (2011) and Sonboir et al., (2020). Higher chickpea production as a result of the residual influence of RDF might be due to improved growth, which produced a sufficient supply of photosynthates for the sink’s development. Thus, the increased values of the yield parameters and overall improved growth performance translated into increased seed yield (Lakum et al., 2020). Boosted chickpea output as a result of FYM’s residual effects, might be created to improved physical, chemical and biological qualities of the soil and increased nutrient availability, CO₂ release and fertilizer use efficiency. Improved plant growth and overall development leading to an increase in the haulm yield of chickpeas by the residual action of RDF (Lakum et al., 2020). Increased plant height, branch count and leaf area may be the cause of the greater stover output with RDF and FYM treatments (Koireng et al., 2018). Benefits of using organic manures, especially FYM, which improved rhizospheric development and nutrient absorption and therefore raised the output of chickpea biomass (Meena et al., 2024). Essential elements were supplied in greater amounts from both organic and inorganic sources; as a result, their availability, mobilization and influx into plant tissues boosted growth and yield components and ultimately the chickpea seed, straw and biological yield (Singh et al., 2023). The current results are in accordance with the findings of Meena et al., (2024); Lakum et al., (2020) and Sonboir et al., (2020).
 
Nutrient content (%)
 
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in seeds and straw were considerably affected by different levels of inorganic fertilizers and FYM as showed by the data presented in Table 3. Highest N content in seeds (2.549%) and in straw (0.840%) was observed in 100% RDF which showed significant superiority over 50% and 75% RDF and control. Meanwhile highest content of P in seeds (0.341%) and straw (0.171%) was observed under 100% RDF, which were significantly superior over 50%, control but statistically at par with 75% RDF. Highest K content in seeds (0.600%) was observed under 100% RDF which were significantly superior over 50%, 75% RDF and control. While highest K content in straw (1.252 %) was observed under 100% RDF, which were significantly superior over 50%, control but found at par with 75% RDF. In terms of FYM levels, highest N content (2.352%), P content (0.327%), K content (0.542%) in seeds and highest N content (0.747%), P content (0.156%), K content (1.176%) in straw was noted under 10 t ha^-1 FYM which showed significant superiority over 5 t ha-1 FYM and control.



The study found that interaction between two factors i.e. RDF and FYM levels were found non-significant in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of seeds and straw.
 
Nutrient uptake
 
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake by seeds and straw were significantly affected by different levels of inorganic fertilizers and FYM as showed by the data presented in Table 4. Highest N uptake (51.07 kg ha^-1), P uptake (6.86 kg ha^-1), K uptake (12.21 kg ha^-1) by seeds and highest N uptake (27.23 kg ha^-1), P uptake (5.53 kg ha^-1), K uptake (40.69 kg ha^-1) by straw were observed under 100% RDF, which showed significant superiority over 50% and 75% RDF and control. In terms of FYM levels, highest N uptake (41.20 kg ha^-1), P uptake (5.72 kg ha^-1), K uptake (9.75 kg ha^-1) by seeds and highest N uptake (21.95 kg ha^-1), P uptake (4.56 kg ha^-1), K uptake (34.21 kg ha^-1) by straw was noted under 10 t ha^-1 FYM which showed significant superiority over 5 t ha^-1 FYM and control.



The study found that interaction between two factors i.e. RDF and FYM levels was  found statistically significant in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake of seeds and straw (Table 5).



The residual impact of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers and well rotten farm yard manure maximize the N uptake due to gradual release of nutrients through organic manure over time throughout the mineralization process, by limiting the nutrient losses either through leaching or volatilization resulted in higher uptake of nutrients (Gudadhe et al., 2011). In the initial phases of crop growth, the crop had a steady supply of P from chemical sources; later on, the crop was able to obtain nutrients from an organic source through a slow and steady release of nutrients. (Vidyavathi et al., 2012). The enhanced uptake of P might be ascribed to comprehensive and well-rounded nourishment, which involves the use of chemical fertilizers based on soil tests in conjunction with organic manures, which control the increased absorption of nutrients (Meena et al., 2024). Under 100% RDF, higher potassium uptake was possible due to the favourable residual effects of INM treatments which supplemented sufficient supply of primary plant nutrients, increasing nutrient absorption through enhanced fertilizer nutrient usage efficiency (Gudadhe et al., 2011). One possible explanation for the increased K absorption with organic manure is the solubilization of the nutrients, the chelation of complex intermediate organic molecules formed during the breakdown of the additional organic manures and the mobilization and accumulation of various nutrients in various plant sections (Thakur et al., 2023). The results of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake are in conformity with Gudadhe et al., (2011) and Dhaliwal et al., (2023).

Under integrated nutrient management strategies, the residual effect of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers i.e., 100%  RDF showed significant superiority over its lower, levels and 10 t ha^-1 of FYM performed significantly better over its lower levels on all the yield attributes, yield, concentration of nutrients and its uptake in chickpea. The interaction of inorganic fertilizer dose and FYM showed significant response on number of pods plant^-1, seed yield, straw yield, biological yield and nutrient uptake. Inorganic fertilizers provide faster nutrient availability and greater initial yields; on the other hand, organic fertilizers support soil health over the long term and environmental sustainability.

I want to sincerely thank Lovely Professional University in Punjab, where I did my research experiment and all the requirements were met.

All Authors do not have any conflict of interests to declare.