Yield, Yield Attributes, Nodulation and Protein Content of Chickpea as Influenced by Variety and Inoculation with Rhizobium Strains

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted on Arba Minch University research farm during 2015 evaluate the effect of inoculation with different Rhizobium strains on growth, yield, nodulation ability and protein content of chickpea varieties. The treatments consisted of six varieties of chickpea (two desi types: Fetenech and Kutaye; four kabuli types: Harbu, Kasech, Kobo and Yelb) and four levels of inoculation (uninoculated, inoculated with CP-M1, inoculated with CP-EAL 018, and inoculated with CP-EAL 029) arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth, nodulation, yield and yield attributes of chickpea were substantially affected by the main effects of variety whereas the effect inoculation was significantly only on plant height, nodule number, nodule dry weight per plant (mg) and seed yield. Variation in seed yield and protein content due to variety effect ranged from 13.3 to 24.86qha^-1 and 27.99 to 36.57% over control treatment, respectively. Rhizobium inoculation also showed 8.34 and 5.36% increment in seed yield and crude protein content, respectively. However, the differences among strains were not significant.  The highest significant yield was obtained from Yelbe (24.86qha^-1) followed by Kobo (22.7 qha^-1) while the lowest was recorded due to Fetenech (13.37 qha^-1). On the other hand, Kobo produced the highest crude protein (36.57%) followed by Fetenech (35.96%) and Yelbe (33.12%) whereas the lowest crude protein was obtained from Kutaye (27.99%). This could indicate that variety consideration and inoculation with rhizobium may improve the productivity and quality of chickpea.

Keywords: nodulation, chickpea varieties, rhizobium strain, crude protein content