EFFICIENCY OF NITROGEN FIXING, NODULATION FORMATION, PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA AND PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA ON YIELD OF CHICKPEA

Chickpea is an important nodules producing pulse crop of Thal. To enhance nitrogen fixation for higher yield, the effect of bacterial strains on nodulation was evaluated for yield contributing traits of chickpea at Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar, Pakistan during 2019-20. Six Rhizobium inoculations i.e. Providencia vermicola, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus mojavensis, Mesorhizobium ciceri-11, Mesorhizobium ciceri-1 and Bacillus subtilis were tested on two chickpea genotypes i.e. Bhakkar-2011 and Thal-2020. A consortium of six bacterial strains was applied at the time of sowing as a seed coating on a sandy soil. Results showed a significant increase in height/plant, nodulation, 100 grain weight, pods/plant and grain yield (kg/ha) due to bacterial inoculation. Nodules/plant were also increased from 44.08 to 76.16. Maximum number of nodules plant-1 were counted as 76.16 with 2.59 g fresh and 0.64 g dry weight per plant in treatment combination viz. Thal-2020 × RP08+RS14+RZ11 thus showing the specific symbiotic relationship among the genotypes and Rhizobium inoculum. In comparison to the control, the PSB, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and rhizobium inoculum results were 52 % increase in pods/ plant. The maximum number of pods/plant (116.00) and100 grain weight (27.73 g) were recorded in V1 × T1 (RP08+RS14+ RZ11). The weight of 100 grains was increased by 40% over the control. T1 had the highest 100 grain weight of 27.73 g, followed by V1 x T3 with a 100 grain weight of 26.22 g. PSB, nitrogen fixation bacteria and PSB inoculation substantially improved pulse crop 100 grain weight and yield. Thal-2020 had the highest grain yield of 3732 kg/ha, while V2 (Bhakkar-2011) had the lowest at 3516 kg/ha. Inoculation with rhizobium consortium improved grain yield by 30% (2617 to 3732 kg/ha). Hence, it was concluded that among all the treatments of Rhizobium consortium, N-fixing bacteria and PSB influenced a beneficial effect on chickpea grain yield quality and quantity.