Chickpea Farming: How to Achieve Higher Yields? Agriculture Department Issues New Scientific Advisory

Krishi Dunia

• 23 Nov, 2025 12:18 PM IST ,
• Updated Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:00 PM

Chickpea—one of the major pulse crops of the Rabi season—is currently in its ideal sowing window. To help farmers achieve better yields, the Agriculture Department regularly releases scientific guidelines. In this context, experts from Tabiji Farm, Ajmer, have emphasized the importance of seed treatment and soil treatment for maximising chickpea productivity.

Suitable Soil and Proper Timing Are Essential

Deputy Director of Agriculture (Crops), Manoj Kumar Sharma, said that chickpea performs best in fertile soils that are free from salinity and alkalinity and have good drainage. The current weather conditions are highly favourable for sowing.

He added that timely treatment of both the field and the seed helps protect the crop from various pests and diseases. While using agricultural chemicals, farmers must follow all recommended safety measures, including wearing full clothing, masks, and gloves.

Why Seed Treatment Matters

According to Dr. Jitendra Sharma, Plant Pathology Research Officer, seed treatment ensures better germination and significantly reduces the risk of root rot, dry rot, and wilt diseases. Using disease-resistant varieties along with soil treatment through Trichoderma is considered highly effective.

How Farmers Should Carry Out Soil Treatment

• Mix 2.5 kg Trichoderma with 100 kg moist FYM (farmyard manure)
• Keep the mixture in shade for 10–15 days
• Apply it to the soil at the recommended rate per hectare during sowing

For Seed Treatment

• Carbendazim 1 g + Thiram 2.5 g per kg seed
  or
• Carboxin + Thiram (37.5%–37.5%) at 2 g per kg seed
  or
• Trichoderma 10 g per kg seed

Pest Control: Key Recommendations

Assistant Research Officer (Entomology), Dr. Suresh Choudhary, advised the following measures for controlling termites, cutworms, and wireworms:

• Quinalphos 1.5% dust at 25 kg/ha
• Seed treatment with Fipronil 5 SC at 10 ml per kg seed
  or Imidacloprid 600 FS at 5 ml per kg seed

Apply Fertilizers in the Right Amount

According to Dr. Kamlesh Choudhary, Agriculture Officer (Chemistry):

• Liquid Rhizobium, PSB, sulphur, and zinc bio-fertilizers
• Applied at 3–5 ml per kg seed
  help significantly improve yield.

Agriculture Officer (Crops), Ramkaran Jat, recommended the following nutrient doses:

• Unirrigated fields: 10 kg Nitrogen + 25 kg Phosphorus per hectare
• Irrigated fields: 20 kg Nitrogen + 40 kg Phosphorus per hectare

Apply fertilizers during the final ploughing at a soil depth of 12–15 cm.

Weed Management Is Also Important

• Pendimethalin 30 EC – 2.5 litres/ha, or
• Pendimethalin 38.7 CS – 1.9 litres/ha,
  mixed in 600 litres of water,

should be sprayed after sowing but before seed germination for effective weed control.

Conclusion

Experts believe that if farmers adopt proper soil and seed treatment techniques combined with scientific management practices, chickpea yields can increase by 20–30%. With the right approach, chickpea can become a highly profitable crop for farmers.