THE INFLUENCE OF INOCULATION AND NITROGEN TREATMENTS ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) CULTIVARS

The field experiment was arranged in split plots based on randomised complete block design with three replications. In order to eliminate the contamination, treatments (C:control, BI:bacteria inoculation, N: nitrogen fertilization, BI+N: bacteria inoculation+nitrogen fertilization) were in main plots and cultivars (Isik-05, Yasa-05, Azkan, Hisar) were sub-plots. According to two-year results, N caused significant increases in pod number per plant and seed number per plant, BI caused significantly increases in only pod number per plant. However N+BI had no positive effect over control. Thus, N and BI can not be suggested together. There were no significant differences among the cultivars with respect to seed yield and BI always caused same or higher seed yield. While cultivar Azkan produced similar seed yield in wet year, its performance was better in the dry year. Thus, cultivar Azkan and bacteria inoculation can be suggested together for sustainable chickpea production in central Anatolia and similar ecological conditions.