Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Nutrient Use Efficiency of Irrigated Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Scarce Rainfall Zone of Andhra Pradesh, India

A field experiment was carried out on sandy loam soils at Agricultural College, Mahanandi during rabi season of 2021-22 in order to study the yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency of chickpea under varied levels of fertilizer application. The experimental field was laid out in a randomized block design with 10 treatments, each replicated three times. Nitrogen was applied through urea in two halves, one at sowing and one at 30 days after sowing (DAS). Complete dose of single super phosphate was applied through single super phosphate as a basal in all the 3 levels @ 50, 60 and 70 kg P2O5 ha-1. The treatment with application of 20 kg N basal + 20 kg N split + 60 kg P2O5 basal (T9) resulted in significantly higher values of seed yield (1346 kg ha-1), harvest index (49.2), nutrient uptake (N, P and K uptake) and phosphorus use efficiency (22.4%). Significantly higher nitrogen use efficiency with 10 kg N basal + 10 kg N split + 70 kg P2O5 basal (T4) and with application of 20 kg N basal + 20 kg N split + 70 kg P2O5 basal (T10) resulted higher haulm yield (1352 kg ha-1). Harvest index and post-harvest soil nutrient status (available N, P2O5 and K2O) were not significantly affected by levels of fertilizer application. The present investigation concluded that 20 kg N basal + 20 kg N split + 60 kg P2O5 basal (T9) was the optimum dose of fertilizer for better performance of chickpea in scarce rainfall zone of Andhra Pradesh.