Effects of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent on root morphological characteristics and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rain-fed conditions

inclusion of legumes in rotation to reduce chemical fertilizers has been of interest. The use of biological resources instead of chemicals can play an important role in maintaining fertility and soil biological activities; also increased the quality of agricultural products and ecosystem health. Applying mycorrhiza and superabsorbent as factors of preserving water and supplying nutrients for plants are important in dry farming.
The experiment was conducted in Lorestan province (Noor Abad city) as a split-factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Two different chickpea cultivars (‘Arman’ and ‘Azad’) were used as the main plot and superabsorbent polymer at three levels (0, 100 and 200 kg ha-1) and mycorrhiza at two levels (0 and 200 kg ha-1) were served as the sub-plots.
applying superabsorbent and mycorrhiza increased root traits and grain yield, however, when they were used together, their positive effects on the yield and root traits were more than they were applied separately. Regarding to the water resources shortage in the country, simultaneous using of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent; in addition to improving chickpea yield under rain-fed conditions, can provide bases for organic agriculture, system sustainability, finally more environment health.
Finding: Cultivars were not different according to considered traits. Using superabsorbent (200 kg/ha) increased biological yield (5.9%), grain yield (9.4%), root length (18.5%), number of nodules (19.7%) and root volume (21.9%). Results indicated that mycorrhiza application improved biological yield (4.7%), grain yield (4%), root length (12.8%), root dry weight (8.3%), and root volume (11.7%). The interaction of superabsorbent and mycorrhiza was statistically significant on biological yield, grain yield, root length, and the number of root nodules of chickpea.