Evaluation of two chickpea (cicer arietinum l.) cultivars in response to three Rhizobium strains at River Nile State, Sudan

1 Hudeiba Research Station (ARC), P. O. Box 31, Eddamer, Sudan 2 National Centre for Research, Environment and Natural Resources Research Institute (ENRRI) P. O. Box 6096 Khartoum, Sudan *Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected] The performance of two chickpea in response to three Rhizobium strains was evaluated. The main objective of the work was to study the effect of inoculation with different Rhizobium strains on yield, nodulation and other agronomic characteristics of two chickpea cultivars and examine the interaction. In this two factor factorial field experiment of three Rhizobia strains (ENRRI 8, USDA3100 and TAL 620) along with uninoculated (control) were compared on two chickpea cultivars (Burgeig and Salwa) and the eight treatment combinations were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The inoculation increased the plant traits of the two cultivars. Inoculated plants gave higher nodule dry weight mg plant1, seed yield g plant -1 , number of filled pods plant -1 , seed number plant -1 compared to un-inoculated plants. The various Rhizobium strains differed in their effects. USAD3100 strain was found to be the most efficient in increase yield and yield components. TAL 620 strain was most effect in delaying days to 50 flowering and days to 90% maturity and gave tall plant height. The two cultivars responded differently to inoculation. Salwa cultivar responds to TAL 620 strain, whereas Burgeig cultivar responds to USDA3100 strain. Salwa cultivar was more efficient in Rhizobium production. On the basis of analysis of correlation coefficients, it was found that number of filled pods plant -1 , seed number plant -1 were the best criterion for selection of most effective legume-Rhizobium associations.