Investigation the effect of mycorrhizal fungus and supplementary irrigation on growth, yield and yield components of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in two seasons of autumn and spring cultivation in climatic conditions of Ilam Province

In order to investigate the effect of mycorrhizal fungus on the growth and yield of autumn and spring chickpeas under water tention in Ilam, a split-split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The experiment had three factors: planting season, fertilizer and supplementary irrigation. Planting season in two levels of autumn and spring as the main plot, supplementary irrigation including 3 levels (control or rainfed, once irrigation in flowering stage, twice irrigation in flowering stage) in sub-plots and fertilizer factor including 4 levels ( Control, mycorrhiza, chemical fertilizer (nitrogen and phosphorus) and mycorrhiza with chemical fertilizer (nitrogen and phosphorus) were in the sub-sub-plots. The results of analysis of variance showed a significant effect of the main factor of planting season on grain yield, so that grain yield in autumn planting of chickpeas was 32 percent higher than spring sowing. According to the results obtained in terms of grain yield, sowing in autumn is a suitable condition for chickpea plant.The highest grain yield in the treatment of chemical fertilizer + mycorrhiza with twice irrigation was obtained at 2495 kilograms per hectare. Combined use of chemical fertilizers and mycorrhiza fertilizer significantly increased the chlorophyll content of whole leaves compared to the control by 56.5 percent. Overall, the results showed that cultivation of chickpeas with the use of a combination of chemical fertilizers along with mycorrhiza biofertilizer and supplementary irrigation in two stages has the ability to improve the yield and functional components of chickpeas in the experimental conditions and can be recommended as a management option in chickpeas cultivations in the region.