Improving chickpea productivity in rice-fallow of Indo-Gangetic Plain with soil moisture conservation and cultivar selection

Rice fallows offer an extensive scope for cropping intensification in the country. Presently, the grain legumes or pulses are recommended for sustainable intensification of rice-fallows. An experiment was carried out (2011-2013) to evaluate the effect of preceding rice cultivars and soil moisture conservation practices on chickpea productivity in rice-fallow condition. The treatments comprised of two levels of rice cultivars [Pant Dhan 12, local tall cultivar), three levels of residue management treatments (residue removal, rice straw mulching, and retention of (˜ 20 cm) rice stubbles), and two levels of chickpea cultivars (JAKI 92-18, DCP 92-3), fitted in split-split plot design with three replications. Rapid depletion soil moisture was observed in the surface soil (0- 15 cm) after rice harvest. Rice straw mulching increased the chickpea grain yield by 6-14% (p< 0.05) over residue removal, whereas the effect of stranding stubble was marginal. The increased chickpea yield with straw mulching was primarily attributed to the higher soil moisture, favorable soil temperature, and reduced crop-weed competition. The early harvesting of rice variety Pant Dhan 12 had advanced the chickpea crop establishment (15-18 days) over the late local rice cultivar that facilitated efficient use of the residual soil moisture, leading to the higher chickpea yield by 11-16% (p< 0.05). Higher relative water content was observed in chickpea following rice variety Pant Dhan 12 and straw mulching. Increased chickpea yield was primarily attributed to an increase in shoot and root biomass, nodulation, and number of pods plant⁻¹. The performance of early and high biomass chickpea variety JAKI 92-18 was superior over DCP 92-3 under rice-fallow condition. Thus, the early maturing rice cultivar followed by early and high biomass producing chickpea cultivar with rice straw mulching in chickpea could improve the chickpea its system productivity, and thereby improve the farmers’ income in rice-fallows.