Introducing a sustainable soil fertility system for chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.)

Abstract

In order to introduce a sustainable soil fertility system for chickpea, field experiments were carried out in 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Experiments were arranged in split-split plot arrangements with three replications. Main plots consisted of (G₁): establishing a mixed vegetation of vetch and barley, (G₂): without green manure. Also, five strategies for obtaining the base fertilizer requirement including (N₁): farm manure; (N₂): compost; (N₃): triple super phosphate; (N₄): farm manure + compost and (N₅): farm manure + compost + triple super phosphate. Four levels of biofertilizers consisted of (B₁): Phosphate solubilizing bacteria; (B₂): Trichoderma harzianum; (B₃): Phosphate solubilizing bacteria + T. harzianum; and (B₄): without biofertilizers were arranged in sub-sub plots. Results showed that green manure increased pod number and number of fertile pods per plant. Integrating biofertilizers (B₃) and green manure (G₁) produced the highest pod number per plant and grain yield. The highest amounts of yield and yield components were obtained in G₁N₅ treatment. Comparison of 3-way interactions showed that G₁N₅B₃ was the best treatment. Significant increase of N, P, K, Fe and Mg content in leaves and grains emphasized on superiority of mentioned treatment because each one of these nutrients has an approved role in chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis ability of the crop. The N₅ treatment in addition to having the highest yield had the best grain quality due to high protein, starch and total sugar contents, low crude fiber and reduced cooking time.

Key words: Biofertilizer, chickpea, compost, farm manure, soil fertility system.