Abstract
The key plant nutrients determine the crop's nutritional status and vigor, while their deficiency impairs the plant growth resulting in absolute failure of crop productivity. Phosphorus is the second major essential nutrient for the growth and establishment of crops. Drastic variations in climatic conditions across the world and low soil fertility, especially phosphorous (P) fixation in alkaline calcareous soils of arid climate have become serious issues threatening the productivity of crops. In this regard, the application of different organic fertilizers in combination with the lower dose of chemical fertilizers has been proved as an effective strategy to improve plant growth and yield. Thus, a pot experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the combined effects of animal manures (normal and processed) along with the recommended and half of the chemical fertilizer di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) on the growth, physiology, nodulation, and yield of chickpea. Results show that the animal manure (normal and processed) with half or recommended dose of DAP significantly improved the growth, yield, and physiological attributes of the chickpea. However, the combined application of normal animal manure with half DAP showed the highest results among all other treatments. It increased the contents of leghaemoglobin, P, K, primary branches, pods, and seed weight up to 113.7%, 97.8%, 80.6%, 78.5%, 119%, and 145% over control, respectively. This treatment also increased protein contents, nodule count, and nodule weight up to 78.38%, 147%, and 93.59% than the control, respectively. Maximum chlorophyll b contents (0.78 mu g/mL) were obtained with the application of a recommended dose of DAP alone. These indigenous manure applications provide a novel value addition that is critical to boosting crop yield and agricultural sustainability.