Liquid inoculant for chickpea

Abstract

Three Rhizobium sp bv Cicer strains were formulated in a liquid carrier and evaluated for their ability to nodulate desi-chickpea in the greenhouse. The population of the strains was monitored over 5 months, the maximum time anticipated between manufacture and the farmer applying it to seed. All strains were applied to seed at a rate that provided a population that exceeded 1X10^5 cells per seed. Only the plants that were inoculated developed nodules and all strains were effective forming pink-red nodules on the crown and lateral roots. Shoot fresh weight of inoculated plants was always greater than that of the uninoculated plants. The population of each strain remained at or above 1X10^9 cells per mL after 5 months storage at 4°C.