CHICKPEA-RHIZOBIUM SYMBIOSIS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND CROP YIELD

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major constraint to chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production, particularly in arid regions such as Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of salt-tolerant Rhizobium strains in improving chickpea growth, nodulation and yield under saline soil conditions. A pot experiment was conducted at the Arid Zone Research Center, where five chickpea genotypes (G1–G5) were inoculated with salt-tolerant rhizobial strains isolated from saline soils. The study compared inoculated plants with uninoculated controls. Results showed that rhizobial inoculation significantly enhanced seed germination (up to 90%), shoot length (28–42%), root length (25–37%) and biomass (42%) compared to uninoculated plants. Nodulation efficiency improved markedly showing 100% nodulation across all genotypes. Additionally, inoculation led to a 45% increase in pod number. Soil health analysis revealed enhanced organic matter content, increased nitrogen levels and reduced bulk density in inoculated treatments, particularly in genotypes G5 and G2. These findings suggest that salt-tolerant Rhizobium strains can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of salinity, improve soil fertility and enhance chickpea productivity. The results highlight the potential of rhizobial inoculation as a sustainable approach for chickpea cultivation in saline environments.