Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Inoculated with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (Report‪)‬

Introduction Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent a wide variety of soil bacteria which, when grown in association with a host plant, result in stimulation of growth of their host plant (Vessey, 2003). Several mechanisms have been suggested by which PGPR can promote plant growth, including phytohormone production, N2 fixation, stimulation of nutrient uptake and biocontrol of pathogenic microorganisms (Kloepper et al., 1981; Rodriguez and Fraga, 1999; Sindhu et al., 1999; Benizri et al., 2001; Persello-Cartieaux et al., 2003; Somers et al., 2004). Many different genera of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria such as Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas have been used as biofertilizers for economically important crops. Seed inoculation with a combination of beneficial microorganisms including rhizobia, PGPR and PSB (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria) have been shown to increase crop growth and productivity (Dashti et al., 1998; Rodelas et al., 1999; Chebotar et al., 2001; Sindhu et al., 2002; Zaidi et al., 2003; Rudresh et al., 2005). However little is known about the response of chickpea to combined inoculation with rhizobium and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria under field conditions. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the major pulse crops in the world and provides high quality protein for the people in South, West and East Asia and North Africa. It is also used as feed for livestock and has a significant role in farming systems (Singh, 1997). In Iran chickpea is the most important grain legume and improving it's productivity is a necessity. Hence the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of single and combined inoculations with strains of bacteria from genera Mesorhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobacter and Pseudomonas on nutrient uptake, growth and yield of chickpea under field conditions.