Influence of Some <i>Rhizobium</i> Strains on Chickpea: Nodulation, dry matter yield and Nitrogen uptake

Abstract

Four strains of Rhizobium were isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) to characterize and observe the effectiveness on host legumes. In a laboratory study, Rhizobium strains showed standard pattern of reactions in respect of growth rate, colony characteristics and acid/alkali production on different growth media. The effect of Rhizobium inoculation on nodulation, growth and nitrogen fixation of chickpea was assessed by pot experiment on clay loam soil. Inoculation treatments comprised of Rhizobium strains CR₁, CR₂, CR₃ and CR₄. Rhizobium inoculation had significant positive effects on nodulation, growth and nitrogen fixation of the crop. Among the Rhizobium strains CR₂ and CR₃ performed better than CR₁ and CR₄ at 50% flowering stage of the crop. There were high positive correlations among the number and dry weight of nodules, N content and N uptake by shoot of chickpea.

Keywords : Rhizobium; Nodulation; Growth; Nitrogen fixation; Chickpea

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjm.v27i2.9174

BJM 2010; 27(2): 61-64