Effect of phosphorous, rhizobium inoculation and residue types on chickpea productivity

An experiment with the objective to evaluate the effect of phosphorous, rhizobium inoculation and residue types on chickpea productivity was conducted during Rabi 2014-15 at Agronomy Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used for the experiment with four replications. Inoculated and un-inoculated seeds were sown with three phosphorus (P) levels (30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1) and three residue types (cereal, legume and oilseed). A control treatment was also included. Plots supplied with 90 kg P ha-1 induced early flowering and maturity with higher nodules plant-1, plant height, number of pods plant-1 and biological yield which was statistically similar with application of 60 kg P ha-1. Significantly higher number of grains pod-1, thousand grains weight and grain yield was recorded in plots treated with phosphorous at @ 60 kg ha-1. Residue types showed non-significant effect on all studied parameters. Seeds treated with rhizobium produced maximum nodules plant-1, grains pod-1, pods plant-1, 1000-grains weight, biological yield and grain yield. The interaction between phosphorus and rhizobium inoculation exposed that seeds treated with rhizobium resulted in maximum biological and grain yield when fertilized with 60 kg P ha-1. It can be concluded that chickpea when inoculated with rhizobium and fertilized with 60 kg ha-1 phosphorus resulted in maximum yield and yield attributes of chickpea.