Does inoculation with Rhizobium tropici and nitrogen fertilization increase chickpea production?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies related to nitrogen fertilization and biological nitrogen fixation in the increase of chickpea production are considered scarce in tropical regions. This work aimed to evaluate the inoculation with Rhizobium tropici, and nitrogen fertilization, under irrigated tropical conditions, on the development of chickpea in low and high content of soil organic matter (SOM). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replications, in a 2 x 6 factorial scheme. Treatments, consisted of the presence and absence of inoculation with R. tropici, and six N doses (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 kg ha-1) in the form of urea. The study was divided into two areas with distinct contents of SOM. In the area with the lowest content of SOM (3.55 dag kg-1), the inoculation with R. tropici or the fertilization with 125 kg ha-1 N increased the leaf content of nutrients (N, K, Mg, and P) and grain mass per plant, 100-grain mass, number of pods with two grains, dry mass of leaves, branches, chlorophyll index, and relative agronomic efficiency. Thus, the yield was increased in 65%, compared to the control treatment, recommending the application of 100 to 125 kg ha-1 of N with or without R. tropici. In the area with the highest content of SOM (7.37 dag kg-1), the inoculation with R. tropici provided a higher grain mass per plants, number of pods with one gain, dry mass of leaves, total dry mass, and chlorophyll index; nitrogen fertilization increased the leaf content of N and the chlorophyll index, although neither factor interfered with the yield, and are not recommended. Such results indicate the dependence of the nitrogen fertilization and inoculation with Rhizobium on the natural availability of N in the SOM.