Effects of mycorrhiza inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer on yield and some growth indices of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Hashem cultivar

Application of bio-fertilizers, especially mycorrhiza as complement or substituent of chemical fertilizers is one of the most important strategies for plant nutrition in sustainable management of agro-ecosystems. In order to evaluate separated and integrated application of biological and chemical fertilizer on yield and growth indices of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) an experiment was conducted in the research station of faculty agriculture of Shahrood University of Technology during growing year of 2009-2010. The experiment was a randomized complete block design in three replications. Treatments were included: B1 (control), B2 (mycorrhiza biological fertilizer), B3 (25 kg/ha phosphorus fertilizer), B4 (25 kg/ha phosphorus fertilizer + mycorrhiza biological fertilizer), B5 (50 kg/ha phosphorus fertilizer) and B6 (50 kg/ha phosphorus fertilizer + mycorrhiza biological fertilizer). The results indicated that in flowering and podding stages B4 and B5 treatments significantly increased leaf area index, leaf area duration and total dry matter compared with control (B1) and mycorrhiza (B2). The maximum and minimum total dry matter obtained at 111 days after planting in B6 and B1 with 10289.07 and 4906.37 kg/ha respectively. B4 treatment increased total dry matter 42.37 percent compared with control. Also effect of treatments were significant on biological and grain yield. No significant differences were found in measured indices and yield between B4 and B5 treatments. The results of this experiment speculated that application of biological fertilizer can lead to decrease 50 percent application of chemical fertilizer in chickpea production. These results are important in sustainable management of agro-ecosystems.