A combination of biochemical fertilizers enhances plant nutrient absorption, water deficit tolerance, and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants under irrigation regimes

Abstract

Water shortage is the most critical abiotic stress and adversely impacts crop growth and productivity. Biofertilizers are an environmentally friendly method for sustainable agricultural development and improving plant water deficit tolerance. The effects of biological and chemical fertilizers on yield, yield components, and nutrient absorption of chickpea plants were studied in 2018 and 2019. The main plots were assigned to the irrigation levels [80% (I₈₀) and 50% (I₅₀)] and the subplot was assigned to 13 fertilizer combinations including free-living N-fixing bacteria (NB), potassium solubilizing bacteria (KB), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PB), common chickpea nutrition program (F; NPK chemical fertilizer), and their combination. The results showed that shoot phosphorus content was increased by 80% when F + NPB (NPK chemical fertilizer and N + P biofertilizers) was applied at I₈₀ compared with the control at I₅₀. Furthermore, I₈₀ and the application of PKB (P + K biofertilizers) and NPKB (N + P + K biofertilizers) obtained the highest shoot K and N concentrations, respectively. The NPKF + B-treated plants (N + P + K chemical fertilizer and N + P + K biofertilizers) demonstrated superior growth attributes such as plant height and the number of sub-branches at I₈₀. The highest grain yield was obtained from the NPKF + B treatment at I₈₀, which was 7.1-fold higher compared with the control at I₅₀. In general, the combined application of biochemical fertilizers mitigated the adverse effect of water deficit and improved nutrient absorption and chickpea yield. The use of biochemical fertilizers can be efficient in reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers and achieving sustainable agricultural goals.

Keywords:

• Biofertilizer
• nitrogen-fixing bacteria
• potassium solubilizing bacteria
• water shortage

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).