Assessing Nutrient Accumulation in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes Grown in Soils with Different Texture: Response to Application of P and Zn Fertilizers, and Rhizobial Inoculant
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Although adding phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) fertilizers to rhizobial inoculation improves nutrient accumulation in chickpeas, it is unclear which is most effective. This study evaluated whether inoculating chickpeas grown in silty-loam or silty-clay-loam soil with liquid- or peat-based rhizobial inoculants, in addition to P and/or Zn fertilizer, alters shoot nutrient concentration. The following genotypes were used: ICCV3110, ICCV8101, ICCV97024 and ICCV92944. The following levels of fertilizer were used: no addition of fertilizer, 10 kg/ha Zn, 40 kg/ha P, and Zn plus P. The following combinations of fertilizer and rhizobial inoculation were used: Zn plus P (peat-based inoculant), denoted as Zn + P + RP, and Zn plus P (liquid-based inoculant), denoted as Zn + P + RL. Our results showed that ICCV97024 exhibited increased shoot P, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn concentrations when grown in silty-loam soil and increased shoot Ca, Zn, Mn and B concentrations when grown in silty-clay-loam soil. Adding P, or P plus Zn, increased shoot P, while adding Zn, or Zn plus P + RL, enhanced shoot P, Fe and B. Adding Zn increased shoot Zn, K and Ca, and adding Zn plus P + RP increased shoot Ca. Overall, chickpeas grown in silty-loam soil accumulated the most nutrients. Adding P, P plus Zn and Zn + P + RL improved shoot P, while adding Zn and Zn + P + RP enhanced shoot Zn and Ca, respectively.
Source: Horticulturae
Institutions: Tshwane University of Technology, University of South Africa
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
Funder: Tshwane University of Technology
OpenAlex ID: W7160019933