Influence of intercropping, moisture conservation practice and P and S levels on growth, nodulation and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.) under rainfed condition

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of intercropping system, moisture conservation practices and P and S levels on nodulation and productivity of chickpea under rainfed condition on a sandy loam soil at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, during 2008–09 and 2009–10. The treatments comprised of 3 cropping systems (Ethiopian mustard sole, chickpea sole and Ethiopian mustard + Chickpea (1:4) and 2 moisture conservation practices including (control and FYM@ 5t/ha + organic mulch + kaolin 6% spray) as main plot and 5 fertility levels (control, 30 kgP2O5/ha, 30kgP2O5/ha+ 15kgS/ha, 60kgP2O5/ha and 60kgP2O5+ 30kgS/ha) as sub-plot replicated thrice in a split-plot design. Sole chickpea gave significantly higher yield however, yield attributes and quality parameters were not influenced by intercropping system. P and S application influenced significantly the growth attributes, nodulation, leghaemoglobin content, nitrogenase activity, yield components and seed yield.