Yield performance and rhizobia inoculation in chickpea in low-altitude areas

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive performance of four chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cultivars and their seed inoculation with Mesorhizobium strains, in low-altitude areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The chickpea cultivars used were BRS Aleppo, BRS Cícero, BRS Cristalino, and BRS Toro. Five experiments were carried out in a greenhouse and in the field. Chickpea inoculation experiments with Mesorhizobium were performed in sterilized substrate, soil, in a greenhouse and in the field, in the municipality of Seropédica. Cultivar production was evaluated in the municipalities of Seropédica and Campos dos Goytacazes. Yields above 1,400 kg ha^-1 were observed for BRS Aleppo, BRS Cristalino, and BRS Toro cultivars, in Seropédica, being lower in Campos dos Goytacazes. However, the presence of caterpillar infestations (Chloridea virescens and Helicoverpa armigera) reduced grain yield and quality in Seropédica. Despite their high-nodulation rates in sterilized conditions, the tested Mesorhizobium strains failed to establish an effective nodulation under field conditions. Cultivars BRS Aleppo, BRS Cristalino, and BRS Toro show potential for commercial cultivation in low-altitude areas in Rio de Janeiro. However, the available Mesorhizobium strains do not establish nodulation under field conditions.