Effect of foliar application of nano-iron chelate and inoculation with mesorhizobium bacteria on root nodulation, growth and yield of chickpea under rainfed conditions

This research was carried out at the Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University in growing season of 2011-2012. The aim of research was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of nano-iron chelate and bacterization of mesorhizobium bacteria on root nodulation, growth, grain yield and yield components of chickpea under rainfed conditions. A randomized complete block design with three replications and eight treatments (T1: control; non-inoculated and non-foliar application, T2: seed inoculation with mesorhizobium bacteria, T3: foliar application of nano fertilizer at flowering stage, T4: seed inoculation+ foliar application at flowering stage, T5: foliar application at podding stage, T6: seed inoculation + foliar application at podding stage, T7: foliar application at flowering and podding stages and T8: seed inoculation + foliar application at flowering and podding stages) were used. The effect of treatments on all traits (except harvest index) was significant. Based on mean comparisons, maximum values for traits of plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of grain per plant, 1000-seeds weight, biological and grain yields, number and dry weight of root nodule were achieved at T8 treatment. However, there is no significant difference for grain and biological yields between T4 and T8 treatments. Therefore, inoculation of chickpea seeds with mesorhizobium bacteria and foliar application of nano-iron chelate in either flowering stage or flowering + podding stages can produce the highest root nodulation, agronomic indices and grain yield.