Effects of Animal Manures and Mesorhizobium ciceri Applications on the Growth and Nodulation of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Siirt Ecological Conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different organic fertilizers and Mesorhizobium ciceri inoculation on seedling growth and nodulation traits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was carried out during the 2023-2024 growing season at the experimental fields of Siirt University Faculty of Agriculture, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Solid worm manure, sheep, cattle, and poultry manures were applied at different rates, while a peat-based Mesorhizobium ciceri inoculant was used as microbial fertilizer through seed coating. The measured traits included plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, shoot fresh and dry weights, root length, root fresh and dry weights, nodule number, and nodule fresh and dry weights. Results indicated that the combination of organic and microbial fertilizers significantly enhanced plant growth and nodulation compared to the control and sole applications. Particularly, the Mesorhizobium ciceri + 200 kg da-1 worm manure treatment achieved the highest values for root traits and nodulation parameters. The findings suggest that the integrated use of organic manures and biofertilizers provides a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilization, enhances nitrogen use efficiency, and supports environmentally friendly production systems in chickpea cultivation.