Growth and yield response of chickpea to different levels of boron and zinc

Like other pulses, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) responses well to boron and zinc fertilization. Therefore, it is necessary to identify optimum boron and zinc fertilizer levels for higher yield of chickpea The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi during the period from November 2013 to April 2014 to study the effect of boron and zinc on the growth and yield of chickpea. The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Five levels of boron viz. 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 kg B ha-1 and four levels of zinc viz. 0, 2, 4 and 6 kg Zn ha^-1 were used as treatments. It was observed that boron level had significant effect on total dry matter at 20, 30 and 40 DAS but not significant at 50, 60, 70 and 80 DAS. The highest total dry matter was recorded from 3 kg B ha^-1 and the lowest one was recorded from control (0 kg B ha^-1). Application of boron showed non-significant effect on crop growth rate. Effect of Zinc on total dry matter was significant at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 DAS but not significant at 70 and 80 DAS .The maximum total dry matter was recorded from 4 kg Zn ha^-1. Effect Zinc on crop growth rate was not significant. Application of boron showed significant effect on the yield attributes and yield of chickpea. The highest seed yield (1.829 t ha^-1) was obtained from 3 kg B ha^-1 and lowest one (1.377 t ha^-1) was found in control treatment. Zinc showed significant effect on almost all the yield attributes and yield of chickpea. The highest seed yield (1.742 t ha^-1) was obtained from 4 kg Zn ha^-1 and lowest one (1.325 t ha^-1) was found in control treatment. Therefore, the combination of 3 kg B ha^-1 with 4 kg Zn ha^-1 may be recommended for better plant growth and higher yield of chickpea.