Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

A field experiment was carried out in the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at the Crop Research Centre of ITM University in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, with the aim of assessing the integrated use of zinc, sulphur, biodigester and seaweed sap for improving the productivity and economic returns of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design with three replications and used the chickpea variety JG-24. Of the various treatments, the treatment comprising 100% (RDF) together with Zn at 5 kg ha⁻¹, S at 25 kg ha⁻¹, biodigester at 10% and Kappaphycus seaweed sap at 10% yielded the highest values for major yield components and total yield. In the years 2024–25 and 2025–26 respectively, this treatment gave 141.48 and 147.25 pods per plant, 1.98 and 2.00 grains per pod, 0.682 and 0.854 g per pod, and 34.14 and 34.90 g for 100-seed weight. The same treatment also produced the highest grain yield (2300 and 2379 kg ha⁻¹), the highest straw yield (4065 and 4189 kg ha⁻¹) and the highest biological yield (6365 and 6568 kg ha⁻¹), with a harvest index of 36.14 and 36.22% in 2024–25 and 2025–26 respectively. The highest net returns of ₹89,017 and ₹97,246.68 ha⁻¹ were also obtained with this treatment in the two respective years. The study therefore indicated that the integrated application of 100% RDF plus Zn at 5 kg ha⁻¹, S at 25 kg ha⁻¹, biodigester at 10% and Kappaphycus seaweed sap at 10% increased both the productivity and profitability of chickpea under the agro-climatic conditions of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.