BIOFERTILIZACIÓN DEL GARBANZO (Cicer arietinum L.) CON Mesorhizobium cicerii CULTIVADO SOBRE SUELO FERRALÍTICO ROJO

ABSTRACT. Biofertilization results from chickpea cultivar N6 with Mesorhizobium cicerii INIFAT-GR1 strain cultivated on a Ferralitic Red soil are firstly reported in Cuba using a randomized block design and 25-m2 plot size. The strain under study was previously selected by a bioscreening method, which showed a high colonization index obtaining high values in number, weight and nitrogen content in nodules when the minor doses of nitrogen fertilizer were applied. Plant development, evaluated by height, number and weight of pods, biomass and other indexes was not affected when nitrogen fertilizer dose was reduced to 70 % in relation to control. Finally, 1.2 t.ha-1 seed yield were recorded without affecting seed quality; these results enabled to reduce agriculture chemicalization