Effect on growth, soil nutrient dynamics and quality of chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), commonly known as gram, channa, Bengal gram, or garbanzo bean, is a self-pollinated, diploid, annual legume (pulse) with short, hairy pods containing usually two seeds and come under the family of Fabaceae and subfamily of Faboideae. Chickpea is the most important food grain legume of South Asia and the world¿s third most important pulse crop. Chickpea is a highly nutritious grain legume crop and is one of the affordable protein sources and also produces high- quality crop residues for animal feed. It is an important source of energy, protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber. Further, the seed protein contains essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, isoleucine and leucine. On an average, chickpea grains contain 60-65% carbohydrates, 6% fat, and between 12% and 31% protein greater than any other pulse crop. it¿s also high in vitamins (especially in B vitamins) and minerals like potassium and phosphorus. Chickpea like other legume crops also replenishes soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation and contributes to the long term sustainability of cropping systems in cereal legume rotations.