Effect of Biofortification on Growth and Yield of Chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important crop for vegetarian people as primary source of protein it is third most important pulse crop grown in the world after dry beans and peas (Kaur et al. 2020). India ranks first in area and production of chickpea followed by Australia Pakistan and Turkey. As per 4th advance estimates it accounts an acreage of 10.17 million hectares contributing 11.35 million tonnes of production with an average productivity of 1116 kg/ha during 2019-20 in India. Among states Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Karnataka Bihar Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are primarily growing states of chickpea. Moreover it has occupied on 2.46 million hectares with a production of 2.66 million tonnes and productivity of 1080 kg/ha in Rajasthan (DES 2020). In Rajasthan it is primarily cultivated in arid and semi-arid districts of Rajasthan including Nagaur Jaipur Jodhpur Sikar Pali Jhunjhunu and Ajmer. This crop is tolerant to drought can be grown successfully on well drained loamy to sandy loam soils under residual moisture(Yadav et al. 2019).