Improving productivity of chickpea (Cicer arientinum) using water retaining polymer in dry land conditions of western Maharashtra

Abstract

A field experiment was laid out during the rabi season, 2009−10 in randomized block design (RBD) to assess the effect of water retaining polymer on water use efficiency (WUE) of chickpea (cv. Phule Digvijay) in light soils of western Maharashtra. Pooled data indicated that water retaining polymer application resulted into 8% to 55% increase in yield with 10.3% to 27.6% water saving as compared to conventional method. The 15 kg ha−1 polymer application before sowing showed maximum growth and yield attributes for chickpea cultivation. However, it was at par with 12.5 kg ha−1 water retaining polymer application. The significantly maximum chickpea yield (22.50 q ha−1) was obtained when water retaining polymer application @ 15 kg ha−1 was given, which was at par with 12.5 kg ha−1 application (21.23 q ha−1). Use of conventional method of chickpea cultivation recorded significantly lowest value of all growth and yield parameters (14.13 q ha−1). The field WUE was maximum i.e. 10.14 kg ha−1mm−1 at application of 15 kg ha−1 water retaining polymer as compared to other treatments. The maximum gross monetary returns (` 67500 ha−1), net monetary returns (` 28757), and B:C ratio (1.74) were also obtained with 15 kg ha−1 polymer application, however it was on par with the economical parameters obtained when 12.5 kg ha−1 polymer applied before sowing.