Performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to bio-fertilizer and nitrogen application in arid condition

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2013–2014 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan to evaluate the performance of chickpea variety “Jakhongir” with the variable proportion of nitrogen (N) and bio-fertilizer inoculation in the moderate saline (5.6?±?0.6?dSm^?1) soil condition. The studied treatments were No control (non-fertilized), N1 mineral-N (50?kg?N?ha^?1), N2, mineral-N (75?kg?N?ha^?1), N3, mineral-N (100?kg?N?ha^?1) equivalent 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% from recommended rate for chickpea, Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?No control, Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?N1, Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?N2, and Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?N3. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium was significantly superior over no inoculation treatments at all rate of N fertilization. The middle rate of N fertilization 75?kg?N?ha^?1 combined with biofertilizer inoculation had of superior effect on chickpea, producing 73.2% more yield (1.68?Mg ha^?1), oil, protein, and sugar content performed 16.4%; 15.0%, and 17.9% higher value, respectively, in comparison to control.     

Bio‐inoculant improves nitrogen‐use efficiency and cotton yield in saline soils

Improved nutrient‐use efficiency is important to sustain agricultural production. The goal of our study was to investigate the effects of Azovit® (Azotobacter chroococcum) inoculation of seed with N fertilization on crop yield, nutrient uptake, and N‐use efficiency (NUE) of irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. C‐6524) in secondary saline soil under continental climatic conditions of Uzbekistan. A randomized complete block design in a 4 × 2 split‐plot experiment was established in the fall of 2013. The main plot was N fertilization (0, 140, 210, and 280 kg ha^?1) and the subplot was Azovit inoculation. Azovit inoculation consistently increased the seed and lint yields of cotton by 25 and 27.9%, respectively, at 210 kg N ha^?1 compared to the respective control. Azovit with 210 kg N ha^?1 significantly increased the cotton harvest index by 21%, when compared to the control. Likewise, nutrient uptake and NUE of cotton were higher when N (210 kg ha^?1) was applied with Azovit, as compared to other treatment combinations. An extrapolation of the relationship of relative yield vs. N fertilization showed that Azovit at 210 kg N ha^?1 was sufficient to obtain near‐maximum cotton production (90%) with highest NUE, as compared to the respective control. The results suggest that Azovit with 210 kg N ha^?1 produces cotton yield higher and/or comparable with the currently used rates of 280 kg N ha^?1 or higher, suggesting savings of 70 kg N ha^?1 for cotton production in saline soils under continental climatic conditions.     

Effects of Rhizobium inoculation and magnesium application on growth and nodulation of soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is one of the major nutritional problems in tropic and subtropic areas, where the most soils are acidic. In this study, the effects of Mg application and Bradyrhizobium inoculation on growth, nodulation, symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation as well as N nutrition status in soybean (Glycine max L.) were investigated in hydroponics under greenhouse conditions. With the increase of Mg up to 0.75?mM at low N and up to 0.5?mM at high N solutions, the dry weights of shoots, roots, and pod grain yield in soybean were increased, while further increase in Mg supply inhibited soybean growth. The availability of Mg was found to entail an improved uptake of N by plants and nodulation process in the root by Bradyrhizobium. Inoculation with rhizobial inoculants not only formed many nodules, but also increased soybean shoot, root biomass and yield, as well as plant N nutrient status.