Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Source and Weed Interference on Yield and Yield Components of Dryland Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars

The aim of this study was the determine effects of nitrogen fertilizer sources (biological, chemical and integrated) and weed interference on the yield and yield components of chickpea cultivars in Khorramabad conditions.

The experiment was conducted as split-split-plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Experimental Farm of Pole Baba Hossein, Khorramabad during the 2017-2018 growing season. Nitrogen fertilizer as main factor (control (without fertilizer), Rhizobium bio-fertilizer, 100% required chemical fertilizer and integration of Rhizobium + 50% nitrogen chemical fertilizer), chickpea cultivars (Adel, Mansour and Arman) as sub-factor and weed interference (weed control and full-season weed interference) as sub-sub-factor were considered.

The effect of nitrogen fertilizer (especially integration of Rhizobium + 50% nitrogen chemical fertilizer) on all evaluated traits was positive and significant. The mean comparisons of cultivar × fertilizer showed that the highest number of pods with one seed, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, straw yield and grain yield were achieved by Arman cultivar and with integrated application Rhizobium + 50% nitrogen chemical fertilizer. In weed control conditions, the highest plant height, number of pods with one seed, number of pods per plant and grain yield was related to Arman cultivar.

Arman cultivar can be considered as the best cultivar in Khorramabad climate conditions. Seeds inoculation with Rhizobium along with consuming 50% of the required nitrogen fertilizer and weeds control can significantly increase the yield of chickpea cultivars.