Effect of fertilization and microbial preparations on productivity of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to optimize the nutritional status and increase the productivity of chickpeas through the application of mineral and organic-mineral fertilizers as well as microbial preparations based on nitrogen–fixing, phosphorus–mobilizing, and potassium-mobilizing microorganisms. The research was conducted in 2019-2021 in the Poltava Research Agricultural Station (Ukraine). NPK fertilizers were applied at a dose, of 20, 80, and 80 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. Before sowing, the seeds were inoculated with the microbial preparation BiNitro Chickpea (BN) and Biofosforyn (BF). Foliar feeding was carried out with the microfertilizer Freya–Aqua™ C(12) Legumes (F). The development of chickpea leaf area and the intensity of organic matter production were largely determined by the supply of the main macronutrients to the plants. The introduction of NPK significantly increased leaf area and net photosynthetic productivity, while the effect of BN, BF, and F on the values of these indices was not significant. Their effect was manifested during the accumulation of aboveground biomass and the formation of yield structure elements. An increase in the seed yield was shown in relation to the application of NPK, microbial preparations, and micronutrient fertilizers. Regardless of the NPK, the highest yield was shown in the variant of the combination of BN+BF+F.