Performance of Liquid and Carrier-based Inoculants of Mesorhizobium ciceri and PGPR (Pseudomonas diminuta) in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) on Nodulation, Yield and Soil properties

A field experiment was conducted during 2007–08 to examine the effect of liquid and carrier-based inoculants of Mesorhizobium ciceri and PGPR (Pseudomonas diminuta) on performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and soil properties. Liquid inoculants of Mesorhizobium sp. and PGPR indicated better nodulation than their carrier-based inoculants registering significant increases of 35. 1 and 30. 9% in nodule number and numerical increases of 25. 9 and 2. 7% in nodule dry weight at 60 days crop age, respectively. However, these inoculants were comparable to its carrier-based inoculants on plant dry weight, grain and straw yields and N and P uptake by grain and straw. Liquid inoculant of PGPR also recorded significantly more N uptake by grain and straw by 6. 7 and 19. 4%, respectively, P uptake by grain by 7.1% and available N and P content in soil of 12. 1 and 8. 3%, respectively than its carrier based inoculants. Carrier and liquid inoculants of Mesorhizobium sp. recorded significant increases of 17. 4 and 16. 6% and PGPR of 18. 2 and 16. 9% in soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) over the uninoculated control and were comparable among themselves. Combined use of Mesorhizobium sp. and PGPR as carrier-based or liquid inoculants was comparable to their inoculation alone on nodulation, plant dry matter, grain and straw yields and N and P uptake by crop; however, these gave significant increases in SMBC of 15. 7 and 14. 8% over respective carrier inoculants and 16. 9 and 16. 6% over their liquid inoculants alone.