A field experiment was conducted on vertisols at Agriculture Research Station, Annigeri, UAS, Dharwad during rabi season of 2009-10 and 2010-11 to study the effect of organic manures and rock phosphate on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in vertisols of northern Karnataka. Significantly higher grain yield was recorded with rock phosphate application @ 200 kg / ha (2140 kg/ha) over 50 kg and 100 kg of rock phosphate per hectare except rock phosphate @ 150 kg / ha (2069 kg/ha). Interaction effect of compost 5 t along with rock phosphate 200 kg / ha recorded significantly higher grain yield (2130 kg/ha) and haulm yield (3300 kg/ha) over other treatment combinations except either of organic manures FYM 5 t or compost 5 t along with 150 to 200 kg rock phosphate per ha. Significantly higher B:C ratio (3.32) was recorded with rock phosphate @ 200 kg / ha over other lower levels. Similarly, combination of compost @ 5 t/ ha with 150 kg rock phosphate resulted in higher B:C ratio (3.37).