Effect of zinc and iron nutrition on productivity and profitability of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Central India

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2018–19 and 2019–20 to assess the effect of foliar spray of zinc and iron on yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Yield attributes viz., number of pods/plant, number of grains/plant, 1000 seed weight and grain weight per plant were obtained significantly higher under 25 kg ZnSO₄ through soil application. Seed yield (1617 kg/ha), stover yield (4128 kg/ha), gross returns (X 86524/ha) and net returns (X 61370/ha) were recorded significantly superior under 25kg ZnSO₄ through soil application. However, application of 25kg ZnSO₄ through soil application gave 328 kg/ha (25.44%) higher seed yield, X 18551/ha (27.29%) greater gross returns and X 15794/ha (34.65%) more net returns over the control. While the Benefit: Cost ratio was obtained significantly higher (3.48) under 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ spray at flower initiation stage followed by 25kg ZnSO₄ through soil application (3.43), harvest index was significantly superior under (33.32%) 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ spray at flower and pod initiation stage.