Effect of Zn, P and rhizobial inoculant on plant growth and photosynthetic activity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes planted in soils with different textures under glasshouse conditions
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of phosphate and zinc applied alone and with rhizobia inoculants on plant growth and leaf gas-exchange parameters of chickpea genotypes grown in two contrasting soils. Four chickpea genotypes were subjected to six nutrient management treatments: control, Zn, P, Zn + P, Zn + P + Rₚ (peat-based inoculant), and Zn + P + Rₗ (liquid-based inoculant). Genotype ICCV8101 exhibited high root biomass and root: shoot ratio in both soils. ICCV3110 and ICCV92944 exhibited greater root, shoot, and whole-plant dry weight when grown in silty-clay loam soil, which resulted in a low root: shoot ratio. Applying P alone and in combination with Zn + P, Zn + P + rhizobia inoculant enhanced root and shoot biomass and leaf gas-exchange parameters when compared to sole Zn and control treatments when grown in both soils. However, the response to the fertilizer treatments was genotype- and soil-dependent. For example, in genotype ICCV97024, the highest shoot and whole-plant dry weight, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were obtained following application of P alone and Zn + P when established in silty-clay-loam. Similarly, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were enhanced by Zn + P + Rp in ICCV3110, while both the combination of Zn + P + Rp and Zn + P + RL improved the parameters in ICCV92944 and ICCV8101 grown in silty-clay loam soils. When established in silty-loam soil, genotypes ICCV3110, ICCV97024, and ICCV92944 exhibited greater root, shoot, and whole-plant dry weight, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, and whole-plant dry weight with Zn + P + Rp application. Overall, silty-clay-loam provided more favourable conditions for chickpea growth and photosynthetic functioning.
Source: Research Square
Institutions: Tshwane University of Technology, University of South Africa
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225614249