Performance of some chickpea varieties to rhizobium inoculation in respect of growth, n uptake, yield and seed protein content

Abstract

Abstract : The performance of six chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties to Rhizobium inoculation in respect of crop growth, N content and uptake by shoot, yield and yield attributes and protein content in seed was assessed by a pot experiment conducted during the rabi season of 1997 at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur. The crop varieties were Bariclthola-2, Bariclthola- 3, Barichhola-4, Barichho/a-5,, Barichhola-6, and a local cultivar. The seeds were either inoculated with Rhizobium strains or kept uninoculated. Rhizobium inoculation had a significant positive effect on growth, N content and uptake by shoot, yield and yield attributes and protein content in seed of the crop. Among the varieties Barichhola-6 in association with inoculation performed best in almost all parameters. Maximum seed yield (7.41 g/plant) was observed in Barichhola-6 in association with Rhizobium inoculation (107% increase over uninoculated control). The lowest seed yield (1.96 g/plant) was obtained by the local cultivar in uninoculated condition. Inoculated Barichhola-6 recorded 278% higher seed yield over uninoculated local cultivar. Seed yield was positively correlated with the number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod and 1000 seed weight.