Effect of Rhizobium and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacterial Inoculants on Symbiotic Traits, Nodule Leghemoglobin, and Yield of Chickpea Genotypes

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2004-05 to find out the effect of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacterial (PSB) inoculants on symbiotic traits, nodule leghemoglobin, and yield of five elite genotypes of chickpea. Among the chickpea genotypes, IG-593 performed better in respect of symbiotic parameters including nodule number, nodule fresh weight, nodule dryweight, shoot dryweight, yield attributes and yield. Leghemoglobin content (2.55mg g(-1) of fresh nodule) was also higher under IG-593. Among microbial inoculants, the Rhizobium + PSB was found most effective in terms of nodule number (27.66 nodules plant-1), nodule fresh weight (144.90mg plant(-1)), nodule dry weight (74.30mg plant(-1)), shoot dry weight (11.76 g plant-1), and leghemoglobin content (2.29mg g(-1) of fresh nodule) and also showed its positive effect in enhancing all the yield attributing parameters, grain and straw yields.