Response of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to Indigenous Rhizobial Isolates Inoculation on Vertisol of Central Ethiopian Highland

A field experiment was conducted at Vertisol of Ginchi, Dandi district, West Shewa, Ethiopia during 2015/16 and 2016/17 cropping seasons to study the effect of different indigenous rhizobial isolates on the yield and yield components of chickpea. Eight rhizobial isolates (CP-5, CP-7, CP-9, CP-10, CP-11, CP-17, CP-100 and EAL-004), one positive control (18 kg N ha-1) and one negative control (no fertilizer source) were the treatments. The treatments were laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated a positive response of chickpea grain yield to rhizobial isolate inoculations. Number of pod per plant, above ground dry biomass and grain yield were positively (P ≤ 0.05) altered by the inoculation. Inoculation of rhizobial isolate CP-17 showed a 5 and 10% grain yield increment over 18 kg N/ha and negative control treatments, respectively. The partial budget analysis result showed that application of CP-17 gave the highest marginal rate of return (MRR). Therefore, the rhizobial inoculant CP-17 can be verified and recommended for wider use of chickpea production at Dandi area.