Residual Effect of Phosphate and Rhizobium inoculation in Chickpea on Succeeding Maize and Fodder Sorghum

Seed inoculation with Rhizobium and application of 40 kg P2O5 ha−1 in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) either alone or in combination enhanced the nodulation and yield significantlv over the uninoculated control for two consecutive years. These treatments also increased the yields of succeeding maize andfodder sorghum crops significantly. Inoculation alone in chickpea produced 26.3 and 32.8 per cent more yields of succeeding maize and fodder sorghum, respectively, showing a residual effect equivalent to 20 kg fertilizer N ha−1. The residual effect of Rhizobium inoculation + P fertilizer was to the tune of 30 and 40 kg N ha−1 in maize and fodder sorghum, respectively.