Effect Of Different Strains Of Rhizobacteria On The Growth Performance Of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) And Nutrient Uptake

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of combined inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria from two genera including Azotobacter and Rhizobacteria on nutrient uptake, growth and yield of chickpea plants under field conditions. Nodulation and nutrient concentration in shoots were significantly affected by the treatments    at the beginning of flowering stage. The maximum of root nodules, plant height, was recorded by applying the combined seed inoculation with Azotobacter and Rhizobium. All inoculants were statistically superior over inoculated control with respect to nitrogen concentration of shoots. The treatments containing Azotobacter +Iron and Boron significantly improved phosphorus concentration in shoots. Grain yield, biomass dry weight and nitrogen & phosphorus uptake of grains were statistically improved by applying every inoculation treatment in comparison with control plants. Group comparisons between treatments showed that the occurance of (T6RDF100%+Azotobacter+Iron0.25%+Boron0.5%) inoculants in the treatment composition caused an expressive improvement in grain yield and plant biomass. In conclusion, application of every inoculation treatment studied here, especially treatments which contained Azotobacter may stimulate growth and yield of chickpea as compared with uninoculated plants.