Effect of farmyard manure and rhizobium inoculation on growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) variety “karak-03”

The experiment was performed at the Agronomy Farm in The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during winter 2015 using simple randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment contained a total of 32 treatment units. FYM application at four levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 ton ha-1) with variety (Inoculated and non-inoculated) were included in experiment. FYM application @ 15 ton ha-1resulted in a significant growth than5 ton ha-1, 10 ton ha -1and the control. Similarly inoculated seeds produced better crop growth as compared to non-­inoculated seed. The parameters such as plant height and nodule per plant were significantly affected by both the FYM and inoculation, while days required for emerging 50% plants and emergence per m2 were also significantly affected but only by FYM. Higher plant height (74.33) and nodule per plant (68.24) was counted in plots treated with FYM @ 15 ton ha-1 as compared to other levels. Similarly Higher plant height (73.54) and nodule per plant (69.50) was counted in plots with inoculated seeds. Hence application of FYM @15t ha-1 and inoculation with Rhizobium strains are the recommended practices for better growth and crop stand of chickpea. Keywords: Chickpea; Rhizobium inoculation; Farm yard manure http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2017.60037