Reaspose of Yield and Yield Components of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars to the Application of Plant Growth Promoting RhizohBacteria and Nitrogen Chemical Fertilizer under Rainfed Conditions

To study the effects of plant growth promoting rhizohacteria on yield and yield components of four chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars in Ilam region under rainfed conditions, a field experiment was conducted using factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Center of Ilam during 2014-2015 cropping seasons. Cultivars under study were Azad, Hashem, Arman and an ecotype. Treatments were plant growth promoting rhizohacteria (without inoculation, 10 kg nitrogen fertilizer, 20 kg nitrogen fertilizer, Azospirillum brasilense+without nitrogen fertilizer, Azospirillum brasilense+10 kg nitrogen fertilizer, Azospirillum brasilense+20 kg nitrogen fertilizer, Azotobacter chrococcum, without nitrogen fertilizer, Azotobacter chrococcum+10 kg nitrogen fertilizer, Azotobacter chrococcum+20 kg nitrogen fertilizer. The interaction effect of cultivar×plant growth promoting rhizohacteria (PGPR) were significant on pods per plant, seed per pod, 100-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, plant height and protein content; Thus, application of chemical fertilizer and PGPR in these cultivars increased all traits under study. The highest mean seed yield of 1533 kg.ha-1 was obtained from interaction effect of Azad cultivars×Azospirillum+10 kg nitrogen fertilizer and lowest grain yield with mean yield of 529 kg.ha-1 observed from interaction effect of ecotype×without inoculation that increased 65.5% to check treatment.  Inoculation with Azesperilluim was found to be more effective in Azad and Hashem cultivars and inoculation with Azotobacter was found to be more effective in Arman cultivar and ecotype. According to the results obtained from this study, Azad cultivar and inoculation with Azospirillum+10 kg nitrogen fertilizer produced highest sedd yield under rainfed condition of Ilam Agricultural Research Center.