Impact of bio-fertilizers and weed management practices on growth and quality characters of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under eastern U.P. conditions

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of bio-fertilizer and weed management practices on growth and quality characters of chickpea during two consecutive rabi seasons of years 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four bio-fertilizer treatments for seed inoculation viz., RDF (20 kg N, 50 kg P and 20 kg ha-1), RDF + Rhizobium culture, RDF + PSB (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria) and RDF + Rhizobium culture + PSB in main plot. Each main plot was further divided into four sub plots to accommodate sub plot treatments i.e. weed management practices comprising application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 as pre emergence, Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) fb Imazethapyr 0.060 kg a.i. ha-1 as post emergence, Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) fb clodinafop 0.060 kg a.i. ha-1 as post emergence, two hand weeding (25 and 50 DAS) and weedy check. The results reported that the higher growth parameters viz. plant height, number of branches (Mainand lateral), number of nodules plant-1 and dry matter accumulation were recorded under application of RDF + Rhizobium culture + PSB during both the experimental years. In case of weed management practices, two hand weeding (25 and 50 DAS) exerted significant effect on growth of chickpea at harvest stage. However, in herbicidal treatments, application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) fb clodinafop 0.060 kg a.i. ha-1 as post emergence noted higher values of above parameters. Protein content was failed to show any significant effect due to above treatments during both the years