Effect of mycorrhiza inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer on some growth indices of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Hashem cultivar

Application of bio-fertilizers, especially mycorrhiza as substituent or complement of chemical fertilizers is one of the most important strategies for plant nutrition in sustainable management of agro-ecosystems. In order to evaluate the separated and integrated application of mycorrhiza biological fertilizer and phosphorus chemical fertilizers on growth indices of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an experiment was conducted at the Research Station of Faculty Agriculture of Shahrood University of Technology during growing season of 2009-2010 based on a randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications. Treatments included: B1 (control), B2 (mycorrhiza biological fertilizer), B3 (25 kg.ha-1 phosphorus fertilizer + mycorrhiza biological fertilizer) and B4 (50 kg.ha-1 phosphorus fertilizer). The results indicated that B4 and B3 treatments significantly increased leaf area index, leaf area duration and dry matter accumulation compared with control (B1) and mycorrhiza (B2). The maximum and minimum dry matter obtained at 111 days after planting in B4 and B1 with 804.24 and 490.58 g.m-2 respectively and B3 treatment (698.41 g.m-2) increased dry matter 42.36 % compared with control. Also, B3 treatment increased plant height, leaf area index and leaf area duration 17.59, 49.18 and 48.74 % compared with control respectively after 90 days of planting. In all indices measured statistically there was no significant difference between B4 and B3 treatment. Result of the present study indicated integrated application biological fertilizer and chemical fertilizer in chickpea lead to decreasing of 50% in chemical fertilizer application.