Influence of some nano-fertilizers on chickpeas under three irrigation strategies

Abstract

Chickpea is an important pulse grown in semi-arid areas where micronutrient deficiency and water shortage are the major problems for its production. Micronutrient deficiency is a great challenge in developing countries while using nano-fertilizers can solve this problem and improve crop growth and soil quality properties. In this research, three irrigation systems were conducted as trials which were in a randomized complete block design layout (Ir1, full irrigation; Ir2, rain-fed with two supplementary irrigations; Ir3, rain-fed). Also, three nano-fertilizers (Zn, Fe, and Mn) in nano-chelated forms were applied to the crop. The treatment combination (irrigation × nano-fertilizer) by trait biplot model described 97% of the total variability in the chickpea dataset. The Polygon View showed three vertex treatment combinations, Zn-Ir1, Fe-Ir2, and Fe-Ir3, in which Zn-Ir1 (nano-chelated zinc with fully irrigated) was the best in number of days to 50% flowering, the number of day to maturity, the first pod height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, thousand seeds’ weight, and seed yield. The Vector View showed that the number of empty pods per plant with thousand seeds’ weight and seed yield is independent while the number of day to maturity, the pods of plant, and the seeds of pod showed positive association. The Ideal Tester indicated seeds of pod, the number of day to maturity and pods of plant were ideal traits while the Ideal Entry showed that Zn-Ir1, Fe-Ir1, and Mn-Ir1 (nano-fertilizer treatments under a full irrigation system) were the ideal ones. Integrated use of micronutrient nano-fertilizers can be advised as ideal management for chickpea growers in semi-arid regions under rain-fed and irrigation systems.