Response of biofertilizers and phytohormone on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinium L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 to find out the response of biofertilizers and phytohormone on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinium L.). The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD with five levels of biofertilizers (No inoculation, Rhizobium, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae, Rhizobium+ Phosphate solubilizing bacteria + Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae) and three levels of homo brassinolide spraying (No spray, Pre-flowering and Pre-flowering + Pod development). Results revealed that inoculation of biofertilizers significantly improved growth parameters like plant height yield parameters like number of pods plant -1 , weight of pods plant -1 , number of gains plant -1 , test weight, grain yield, stalk yield and harvest index. Among the biofertilizers, combined inoculation of Rhizobium + PSB + VAM produced higher grain yield amounting 60.17, 35.35, 17.60 and 13.32 % in first year and 58.64, 35.44, 18.24 and 15.15 % in second year higher kernel yield over no inoculation, rhizobium, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae respectively. With increase in levels of spraying of homo-brassinolide increased the growth and productivity of chickpea. Spraying of homo-brassinolide at preflowering + pod development stages increased higher grain yield by 30.50 and 12.71 % in first year and 29.59 and 12.21 % in second year in comparison with the higher grain yield than spraying of homo-brassinolide at no spray and pre-flowering