Response of Chickpea (Cicier Arietinium L.) to Rhizobium Inoculation and Blended fertilizer Rates in Laelay Maichew, Central Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Low soil fertility is one of the limiting factor for low productivity of chickpea in Central zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Field experiment was therefore, conducted for two consecutive years (2016-2017) in Laelay Maichew (Hatsebo) to evaluate the effects of NPSB fertilizer and rhizobium inoculation on yield and yield components of chickpea. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Rhizobium inoculation was assigned to the main plots with two levels (with and without rhizobium inoculation) and NPSB fertilizer rates in sub plot with seven levels (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 kg ha-1 NPSB). Data collected were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS software. A combined analysis of variance showed a significant interaction effects of NPSB and rhizobium inoculation on chickpea yield and yield components (P<0.05) across the two years. The highest number of pods per plant (76.8) was recorded from 125 kg ha‑1 NPSB along with rhizobium inoculation and the highest grain yields were obtained from 150 kg ha‑1 (3609 kg ha‑1) and 125 kg ha‑1 NPSB (3514 kg ha‑1) along with rhizobium inoculation. Maximum marginal rate of return (4106.68%) was gained when chickpea was inoculated with rhizobium and 125 kg ha-1 NPSB application. From the present results it could be concluded that 125 kg ha-1 NPSB along with rhizobium inoculation seeds would be the optimum treatment combination for enhancing chickpea yield and better profitability in soils with low level of available plant nutrients (NPSB).