Field inoculation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.) with Azospirillum brasilense strain Cd

Field inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense strain Cd increased nodule dry weight (90%), plant-growth parameters and seed yield (99%) of naturally nodulated Cicer arietinum L. (chick pea). In Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean), inoculation with Rhizobium etli TAL182 and R. tropici CIAT899 increased seed yield (13%), and combined inoculation with Rhizobium and Azospirillum resulted in a further increase (23%), while plants inoculated with Azospirillum alone did not differ in yield from uninoculated controls, despite a relative increase in shoot dry weight.