Role of irrigation and mulch in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) growth, productivity and moisture extraction pattern in Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, India

A field experiment was conducted at Research farm, BCKV, West Bengal during rabi 2010–11 and 2011–12 to evaluate the effect of irrigation and mulch on growth, nodulation, yield and water use efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Chickpea irrigated at IW/CPE of 0.6 showed 7.14% and 23.53% higher seed yield compared to IW/CPE of 0.4 (0.98 t/ha) and Rainfed (0.85 t/ha), respectively and was significantly superior. Maximum seed yield of about 1.01 t/ha under the treatment receiving black polythene mulch, which was about 3.59%, 7.45% and 9.78% higher over the treatments receiving straw @ 5 t/ha, water hyacinth @ 5 t/ha and no mulch, respectively. Straw mulch @ 5 t/ha performed best regarding nodule dry weight and number per plant. Water use efficiency was highest with rainfed treatment and treatment receiving black polythene. Irrigation applied at IW/CPE of 0.6 maintained its superiority with highest net return, B: C, production and economic efficiency. Among mulches, highest return, B: C and efficiencies were recorded with the application of black polythene.