Effect of Nitrogen Application on Nodulation in Inoculated Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen application on the growth and nodulation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Inoculated chickpea variety Punjab-91 was applied with different doses of nitrogen i. e. 0 (control), 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ ha in the form of urea. Data regarding the plant height, oven dry root and shoot weights, and number of nodules per plants were recorded every 15 days after the germination (DAG) of seeds up to a period of 60 days. Results showed a marked increase in plant height and oven dry root and shoot weights of chickpea plants due to nitrogen application. Addition of nitrogen at 100 kg/ ha caused maximum increase followed by 150 and 50 kg N/ ha, respectively. However, this marked increase in plant growth was only evident at the early growth stage i. e. up to 45 DAG, and at the later growth stages, the differences became less evident. A marked decline in nodulation in chickpea was observed at all the levels of nitrogen application.