The effects of vermicompost and biofertilizers on the yield and yield components in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different biofertilizer and vermicompost levels on the yield and yield components of chickpea cultivars under the ecological conditions of Muğla-Fethiye, Turkey, over two consecutive growing seasons. ‘Inci’ and ‘Hasanbey’ chickpea cultivars were used in this study. In this research, two biofertilizers with control application (Rhizobium ciceri and Bacillus megaterium) and four different vermicompost levels (0, 2500, 5000 and 7500 kg ha-1) were applied. The study was conducted by using split-split plot design with the three replications. Effect of biofertilizer and vermicompost levels, plant height, first pod height, numbers of branches in a plant, numbers of pod per plant and numbers of seed per plant, numbers of seed per pod and grain yield, were investigate for two chickpea cultivars. In the first year of the study, ‘Inci’ cultivar had higher yield value, while ‘Hasanbey’ cultivar had higher yield value per hectare in the second year and on average combined for two years. The highest values were obtained from the 2500 kg ha-1 vermicompost and Bacillus bacteria applied to the ‘Inci’ cultivar in the first year (1566 kg ha-1). In the second year, 5000 kg ha-1 vermicompost application in ‘Hasanbey’ cultivar and from the Bacillus bacteria application (2089 kg ha-1). In conclusion, B. megaterium inoculation with moderate vermicompost enhanced chickpea yield in Muğla-Fethiye, and can be recommended for Mediterranean agro-ecological regions.