Abstract:
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), also known as Bengal Gram is one of the major pulse cultivated
and consumed in India. It is a cheap source of protein (about 17-20%) compared to animal
protein. Chickpea wilt caused by fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is one of the
serious diseases causing huge loss to crop throughout the world. The experiment was conducted
at agricultural farm of Palli-Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, during the winter season
of 2013-15 on chickpea with a view to manage the disease in a sustainable manner by using eco friendly approaches with less hazards and safer chemicals. Out of different treatments neem cake
showed minimum disease incidence (11.23 %) followed by vermi-compost with 12.06 percent.
Mustard cake was found to be less effective and exhibited 16.07 percent disease incidence.
Maximum plant height and maxmum 1000 seed weight were observed in vermi-compost treated
plot. All the treatments were differ significantly in terms of percentage decrease in disease
incidence and increase in yield over control. The above findings are very useful for the farmers
for making decision over the use of organic materials for management of wilt disease which is
safe management practice for environment, also increased yield of chickpea.
