Effect of Different Strains of Rhizobium on Seed Yield and Its Components of Improved Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars

To evaluate the efficiency of inoculation of chickpea seed with Mesorhizobium on yield and its components on improved chickpea cultivars under rainfed conditions, a field experiment was carried out in Agricultural Research Station of Ekbatan, Hamedan Province during 2010-2011 cropping season. The experiment was conducted as factorial arrangments in randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental factors included three improved chickpea cultivars Hashem, Arman and Azad, and six levels of inoculations SWRI-3, SWRI-15, SWRI-3+P169, SWRI-15+P169, P169 and no inoculation. Days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of pod plant-1, 100-seed weight, biological yield, harvest index and seed yield were measured recorded. Results showed that there were significant difference (P < 0.01) among cultivars for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of pod plant-1, biological yield, harvest index and seed yield. Results also showed that inoculation had significant effect on harvest index, days to flowering and seed yield. The interaction of
cultivar × inoculation was significant for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, harvest index and seed yield. Mean comparison showed that shortest days to maturity was observed for cv. Arman inoculated with Mesorhizobium of SWRI-3. The highest plant height was observed for cv. Hashem inoculated with Mesorhizobium of SWRI-15. The highest seed yield was obtained for cv. Azad inoculated with Mesorhizobium of SWRI-15 which produced 151% higher than check (no inoculation). Therefore, considering the environmental friendly effect of Mesorhizobium symbiosis and its effect on seed yield and yield components, it is recommended that Mesorhizobium inoculation is used as on alternative of urea fertilizer.