Effets de la fertilisation azotée, de l'inoculation par Rhizobium sp. et du régime des pluies sur la production de la biomasse et la teneur en azote du pois chiche

Abstract

Effect of nitrogen fertilization, inoculation with Rhizobium sp. and precipitation on the biomass production and nitrogen content of chickpea. Water availability and soil fertility (especially soil N content) are the major factors affecting chickpea yield in Mediterranean regions, characterized by low rainfall, poorly distributed and rapid mineralization of organic matter. In order to study the effect of N-fertilization and inoculation with Rhizobium on chickpea biomass production and N-content, field experiment were carried out at two stations of INRAT in northern Tunisia during two consecutive years, 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Results showed that N-fertilization significantly increased shoot biomass and N-content while decreasing nodule mass. Inoculation with both the two Rhizobium strains resulted in nodule mass increase but the shoot N-content was not significantly affected. Regardless of the stations and treatments, rainfall decrease between the two years of the experiment significantly reduced shoot and root biomass while improving nodulation, especially at Oued Beja. However, the nodule developed under water deficit conditions was correlated with a very high decrease of the nitrogen fixed. Nevertheless, the mineral nitrogen apply in soil improved the N-content of aerial parts in the two stations, especially in waterless season.

Keywords

• Chick pea
• inoculation
• nitrogen fertilization
• precipitation
• Rhizobium