Effect of inoculation with nitrogen fixing bacteria on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) yield and rhizosphere microflora.

The effect of either a single or mixed inoculation of chickpea with Bradyrhizobium sp. (cicer) and Azospirillum brasilense was studied in a pot experiment on leached smolnitza (Bojurishte, Sofia district). Three Bradyrhizobium strains and A.brasilense Sp.107 were used for presowing treatment of seeds. The virulence of nodule bacteria and the main physiological groups of rhizospheric microorganisms were studied at the blossoming phase. Grain yield  was determined as well. It was established that the mixed inoculation of chickpea was more effective than the single one. The inoculation effect depended on the Bradyrhizobium strain. The greatest effect was observed after a mixed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. (cicer) № 7 and A.brasilense Sp.107. In most cases inoculation increased the amount of the studied rhizosphere microorganisms connected with plant nutrition.