Cobalt chloride enhances crop duration, increases production, and productivity of chickpea

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of chickpea, Cicer arietinum cv. GG 2 to cobalt sulfate and cobalt chloride at 0, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,600 g ha⁻¹. At three leaf stage chickpea seedlings were fertigated with both cobalt sources and levels. Both cobalt sources at the higher level (400 to 1,600 g ha⁻¹) were found injurious to chickpea. All growth, yield, and quality parameters were adversely affected by cobalt sulfate at every level; however, cobalt chloride has given appreciable result up to 100 and 200 g ha⁻¹ over no application of cobalt. Cobalt content in plant and soil increased linearly with increases in cobalt concentration, which reduced chickpea yield linearly. Cobalt sulfate was apparently more harmful than cobalt chloride. The study suggests cobalt chloride has not shown any toxicity up to 100 g ha⁻¹ and can be used for higher productivity of chickpea.

Keywords:

• available nutrients
• chickpea
• cobalt fertigation
• cobalt levels
• cobalt sources
• elemental cobalt
• grain yield
• protein yield
• seed content
• seed uptake