NODULATION, GRAIN YIELD AND GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENTS AS AFFECTED BY RHIZOBIUM INOCULATION AND FERTILIZER PLACEMENT IN CHICKPEA CULTIVAR BITTLE-98

Two fertilizer application methods i.e. Fertilizer broadcast (F1) and Band placement (F2) and five rhizobium inoculation strains along with a control; Uninoculation (I0), Mezo rhizobium (I1), Rhizobium (I2), Biozote (I3), Agro bacterium (I4) and Biofertilizer (I5) were studied in split plot arrangements. Main plot consisted of two fertilizer application methods whereas rhizobium inoculation strains were kept in sub-plots. The study was carried out at the Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar, during Rabi (winter) of 2004-05 and 2005-06 with the objectives to determine the appropriate method of fertilizer application with the selection of Rhizobium strain for exploitation of its natural symbiosis with chickpea for effective nodulation, maximum grain yield and grain protein contents in chickpea under the agro-climatic conditions of Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan. Yield and yield components were significantly affected by fertilizer band placement and seed inoculation. Maximum number of pods plant^-1 (36.50) and100 grain weight (29.19 g) was recorded in fertilizer band placement. Fertilizer band placement increased grain yield by 10 % (3279 to 3772 kg ha^-1) during 2004-05 and 5.96 % (2979 to 3560 kg ha^-1) during 2005-06 over fertilizer broadcast. Nodules plant^-1 was also increased 27 % by seed inoculation. Inoculation with Biofertilizer increased 25.0 and 27.77% yield of chickpea over check (uninoculated) during 2004-05 and 2005-06 study seasons, respectively. It was concluded that, fertilizer band placement along with Biofertilizer inoculation was the best for higher yield and grain protein contents in chickpea.