Effects of Rhizobium Inoculation and Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at Goro, Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State

摘要

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume crop in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of the crop is very low due to a number of constraints out of which soil nutrient depletions a serious problem. Field experiment was conducted in 2015/16 in Goro, Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State to determine the effectiveness of Rhizobium strains and phosphorus fertilizer application on two varieties of chickpea (Arerti and Habru). The thirty treatments included: two Rhizobial inoculants (EAL018andEAL029), five P_2O_5 rate (0, 15, 30, 45and 60 kg P_2O_5 ha~(-1)); and two varieties of chickpea (Arerti and Habru). The experiment was set up in split plot design with factorial arrangement of two varieties of chickpea on the main plots and five levels of P_2O_5 and two types of Rhizobium in the subplot. Flowering date and plant height (PH) were significantly affected due to varieties, application of P_2O_5 and Rhizobium inoculation. The shoot dry matter production, number of primary and secondary branch, maturity date, number of pod and seed per plant, above ground biomass (AGBM), grain yield, thousand grain weight, were significantly affected by variety, rhizobium inoculation and application of P_2O_5. Maximum response was obtained from EAL029 strain inoculation and application of 45kg P_2O_5 ha~(-1) for dry matter production, number of pod and seed per plant, AGBM and grain yield. However, increasing P_2O_5 applications from 45 to 60 kg ha~(-1) provide maximum thousand grain weight respectively. The current investigation indicated that Arerti variety inoculation with Rhizobium strain EAL029 along with application of P_2O_5 at rate of 45 kg ha~(-1) found to be appropriate for chickpea production in the study area. Since the experiment was conducted only for one year, we suggest the results to be verified with more varieties of chickpea and rhizobium strain under the same agro-climatic conditions.