Effect of seed priming and foliar nutrition on seed yield and insect pest attack in desi chickpea

An experiment was conducted to study the impact of seed priming and foliar nutrition on bold-seeded desi-chickpea genotype, GNG-469 during Rabi seasons of 2005–06 and 200607 at Pulses Research Sub-Station, Samba of SKUAST, Jammu. Seed yield was highest in seed priming + 2% urea spray at flowering and 10 days thereafter. Yield attributes and ancillary plant growth characters (plant height, number of pods/plant and days taken to maturity) too were similarly influenced. Foliar application of 2% urea at any crop growth stage also significantly enhanced Helicoverpa armigera population, thereby increasing pod damage irrespective of seed priming although seed priming per se did not influence on the extent or number of pod damage in chickpea.