Effects of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense on chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) and faba beans (Vicia faba) under different growth conditions

The effects of the inoculation of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.) with Azospirillum brasilense strain Cd were studied under different growth conditions. In greenhouse experiments with both legumes, inoculation with A. brasilense significantly enhanced nodulation by native rhizobia and improved root and shoot development, when compared with non-inoculated controls. Moreover, the bacterial treatment was shown to significantly reduce the negative effects on plant growth caused by irrigation with saline water. In field experiments, inoculation of chickpeas with A. brasilense peat-based inoculants also resulted in a significant increase in nodulation, root and shoot growth, and crop yield as compared with non-inoculated controls.