Effect of molybdenum, iron and microbial inoculants on symbiotic traits, nutrient uptake and yield of chickpea

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2007–08 and 2008–09 in a medium black soil to study the effect of molybdenum and iron in combination with Rhizobium and PSB inoculation on ‘JG-130’ variety of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Eight treatment combinations comprising recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF as control), RDF+Rhizobium+Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), RDF+Rhizobium+PSB+0.5 and 1 kg ammonium molybdate (AM) per hectare as soil application, RDF+ Rhizobium+PSB+0.5 and 1.0 g AM/kg seed as seed treatment, RDF+Rhizobium+PSB+1.0 g FeSO₄+0.5 and 1.0 g AM/kg of seed as seed treatment were tried in RBD with three replications. Application of AM either as soil application or through seed treatment in combination with Rhizobium + PSB + RDF significantly increased number and dry weight of nodule, branch/plant, plant height, flowers and pods/plant, N and P uptake, chlorophyll content in leaves and protein content in chickpea over control (RDF alone). Soil application of 1.0 kg AM/ha along with Rhizobium+PSB+RDF and seed treatment with 1.0 g AM/kg seed along with Rhizobium+PSB+RDF also increased the grain yield by 39.9 and 32.4% respectively over RDF alone (1253 kg/ha); and both of these treatments on AM were statistically on par. However, seed treatment of 1.0 g AM along with Rhizobium+PSB+RDF was found to be highly remunerative and viable as compared to others.