Effect of seed inoculation with Rhizobium and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria(PGPR) on yield and yield components of chickpea in irrigated and rainfed conditions

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium strains and plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria(PGPR) on yield and yield components of chickpea(Cicer arientinum L.) Arman cultivar. This research was conducted as split plot based on randomized complete block design at Zanjan university researchal farm. Irrigation levels(optimum irrigation during season growth and no irrigation during growth period) were set as main plots and fertilizer level(control or no application chemical and biological fertilizer, 50kg/ha Urea, seed inoculation with Mesorhizobium ciceri strain of SWRI-3,seed inoculation with Mesorhizobium ciceri strain SWRI-17, seed inoculation with PGPR,Co-inoculation with rhizobium strains SWRI-3+SWRI-17 and Co-inoculation with all biofertilizer, PGPR+SWRI-3+SWRI-17) were sets as subplots. The results of this study showed that drought stress reduced plant height, number of branches, number of seeds per plant, seed weight, biological yield and harvest index.Applicatin of biofertilizers because of positive effects on plant height, number of seeds per plant, seed weight, pod weight per plant and biological yield,produced more grain yield in comparison control and nitrogen urea fertilizer in both of arrigated and rainfed conditions.In addition, seed co-inoculation with all of bio-fertilizers(PGPR+SWRI-3+SWRI-17) achieved more grain yield in comparison separate inoculation about 18-36% in irrigated and 34-50% in rainfed conditions.