Univrsity of Tehran Press Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science 2008-4811 53 3 2022 09 23 Enhancement of plant growth and yields in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) desi type in response to seed priming and bio-fertilizer applications Enhancement of plant growth and yields in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) desi type in response to seed priming and bio-fertilizer applications 183 197 84642 10.22059/ijfcs.2021.315293.654780 FA Ali Taheri Department of Agrothechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Mohammad Kafi Department of Agrothechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. 0000-0002-0933-1346 Jafar Nabati Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Ahmad Nezami Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 0000-0001-9490-6935 Journal Article 2021 08 28 Due to the importance of chickpeas in human nutrition, this experiment was conducted as split-plot based on complete randomized block design with three replications in 2018 at the research farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Treatments were combination of seed priming, fertilizer levels and chickpea genotypes. Fertilizers levels included: 1-seed priming + free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria(P+BF), 2-Application of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria(BF), 3-Pre-planting application of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria+foliar application of amino acids, potassium and silisium during growth period(BF+F), 4-Seed priming+pre-planting application of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria + foliar application of amino acids, potassium and silicium during growth period (P+BF+F) and 5-Control (non- fertilized). Fertilizers were considered as main plots and chickpea genotypes (MCC911, MCC603, MCC291, MCC259 and MCC83)were sub-plots. Results indicated that MCC291 in P+BF+F and MCC83 in BF+F had the highest concentration of Chlorophyll a. The highest plant height was found in MCC259 and MCC911 in BF and MCC83 in P+BF+F. MC259 and MCC911 in F showed the highest height of the first pod. The highest numbers of pods per plant and 100-seed weight were recorded in MCC83 in P+BF+F. The highest seed yield (233, 212 and 206 g.m^-2) was found in MCC259 in P+BF and P+BF+F and MCC911 in BF+F, respectively. Therefore, according to the obtained yields, it could be concluded that the biological fertilizers combination treatments improved plant growth and consequently chickpea yield in Mashhad area. Due to the importance of chickpeas in human nutrition, this experiment was conducted as split-plot based on complete randomized block design with three replications in 2018 at the research farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Treatments were combination of seed priming, fertilizer levels and chickpea genotypes. Fertilizers levels included: 1-seed priming + free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria(P+BF), 2-Application of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria(BF), 3-Pre-planting application of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria+foliar application of amino acids, potassium and silisium during growth period(BF+F), 4-Seed priming+pre-planting application of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria + foliar application of amino acids, potassium and silicium during growth period (P+BF+F) and 5-Control (non- fertilized). Fertilizers were considered as main plots and chickpea genotypes (MCC911, MCC603, MCC291, MCC259 and MCC83)were sub-plots. Results indicated that MCC291 in P+BF+F and MCC83 in BF+F had the highest concentration of Chlorophyll a. The highest plant height was found in MCC259 and MCC911 in BF and MCC83 in P+BF+F. MC259 and MCC911 in F showed the highest height of the first pod. The highest numbers of pods per plant and 100-seed weight were recorded in MCC83 in P+BF+F. The highest seed yield (233, 212 and 206 g.m^-2) was found in MCC259 in P+BF and P+BF+F and MCC911 in BF+F, respectively. Therefore, according to the obtained yields, it could be concluded that the biological fertilizers combination treatments improved plant growth and consequently chickpea yield in Mashhad area. https://ijfcs.ut.ac.ir/article_84642_eb584aae1153ae455d9f3f585a75c2a7.pdf