Isolation of Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation Bacteria (Rhizobium) and its Effect on Growth and Productivity of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

Solaf Hallwm* (1) Ali Hyadar(1) Entesar Shabu(1) and Nahed Nassour(1)

 (1). Lattakia Scientific Agricultural Research Centre, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.                                            (*Corresponding  author:  Eng. Solaf Hallwm. E-mail: solaf.hallowm1975@gmail.com).

Received: 04/11/ 2015                           Accepted: 31/01/ 2016

Abstract

The research aims to investigate the effect of atmospheric nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium and nitrogen fertilization on growth and productivity of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) under field condition. The experiment was conducted, in completely randomized block design, in Al-Snoubar Research Station, Scientific Research Center in Lattakia/Syria, during 2015 season. Two nitrogen levels (N0%،N50%،N100%), were added based on soil analysis, in addition to control. Seeds were inoculated with two isolates (chickpea AZ1, bean AZ2, and control AZ0). Results showed that the treatment (N100, AZ1) is the best in term of productivity, dry shoot weight, plant height, and number of grains per plant. Furthermore, the treatments (N1OO%, N50%) affected negatively the weight of 100 seeds. AZ1 treatment, with all nitrogen levels, exceeded control in term of all traits.

Key words: Chickpea, Nitrogen fertilizer, Rhizobium.

Full paper in Arabic: Isolation of Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation Bacteria (Rhizobium) and its Effect on Growth and Productivity of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum)