Effect of Seed Rate and Spacing on Nutrient Uptake in Chickpea

The research experiment comprising of three levels of seed rate, i.e., 60, 75 and 90 kg/ha and three line spacing, i.e., 20, 30 and 40 cm was conducted at Research Farm of the Department of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur, Ambala during winter season of 2020-21 to study the effect of seed rate and spacing on uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash in chickpea. The seed rate was kept in main plot and spacing in sub-plot. The total nine treatment combinations of seed rate and line spacing were laid out in Split Plot Design (SPD) and replicated thrice. The interaction between seed rate and line spacing significantly influenced the uptake of N, P and K in plants and their status in soil. The maximum available NPK was registered with seed rate 75 kg/ha. Irrespective of the seed rate, the maximum NPK content was recorded under line spacing of 30 cm. Similar observations were also recorded for NPK content (%) in seed and straw of chickpea. The maximum NPK uptake and protein content was also observed when the crop was sown at row spacing of 30 cm using a seed rate 75 kg/ha.