Effects of Dual Inoculation with Irradiated or Non-Irradiated Streptomyces alfalfa Strain XY25 and Mesorhizobium ciceri on Yield and Plant Performance of Chickpea

Abstract

CHickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is considered a high nutritional value legume crop, due to its high content of total carbohydrates, crude protein, nutrients, and vitamins. Therefore, it is interest and requirement to the use of new microbial genera for biological fertilization for improving the nutritional value, and productivity of chickpea crops. The dual biofertilizers Mesorhizobium ciceri with irradiated Streptomyces alfalfae strain XY25, andwith non-irradiated S. alfalfae strain XY25 with the addition of activation nitrogen fertilizer were investigated compared to full dose of chemical fertilization.Moreover, the relation betweenirradiated S. alfalfae strain XY25 and non-irradiated S. alfalfae strain XY25 with the addition of full NPK chemical fertilizers, in the winter of 2019/2020 was studied. The experiment design was a complete randomized block (RCPD) in triplicate. The results showed that the dual biofertilizers Mesorhizobium ciceriwith irradiated and non-irradiated S. alfalfae strain XY25 had positive effect onmicrobial soil enzymes,dehydrogenase, phosphatase and nitrogenase.Also, theyincreased the plant's content of phytohormone, micro-elements (Zn, Fe and Mn), phosphorus, potassium, total carbohydrates, and crude protein. All previous improvements due to dual biofertilizers were positively reflected on seed production and the dry weight of 100 seeds.