Cluster Front Line Demonstrations on New Chickpea Varieties in Western Parts of Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh

Cluster Front Line Demonstrations were conducted to study the comparative performance of new chickpea varieties in the western parts of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. These demonstrations were conducted at twenty five locations during the Rabi season of two consecutive years (2019-20 and 2020–21).

Three improved chickpea varieties (Nandyal Gram-3, Nandyal Gram-49 and Nandyal Gram-452) were selected to implement these demonstrations and the improved varieties were compared with the locally grown JG-11 variety.

During two years of assessment, the pooled results revealed that the highest mean number of pods (51.3) per plant and average pod yield (2234 kg ha^-1) were recorded in Nandyal Gram-452 compared to local variety JG-11 (41.2 pods per plant; 1862 kg ha^-1). The lowest incidence of fusarium wilt was recorded in Nandyal Gram 452 (6.14%) followed by Nandyal Gram 49 (9.73%) and Nandyal Gram 3 (12.04%) compared to JG-11 (15.83%). The lowest dry root rot was also observed with Nandyal Gram-452 variety (10.92%) compared to JG-11 (18.19%). The higher average net income (80486 Rs ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.9) were realized in the demonstration with the improved Nandyal Gram-452 variety in comparison to lower net income (58370Rs ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.3) with JG-11. These results clearly indicated that the improved chickpea variety Nandyal Gram 452 is the best alternative old variety JG-11 which is being cultivated since 2005.