Chickpeas Respond well to Inoculation with TagTeam

Phelps, S.M.
Hagele, E.

Rhizobia strains were tested in TagTeam peat and granule formulation for their effectiveness at increasing yields in chickpeas. Of the five strains tested in 1999, the top three were chosen on the basis of yields produced and were formulated in both peat and granular for testing in 2000. Desi (cv. Myles) and kabuli (cv. Chico) chickpeas were used to evaluate the strains in 2000. Results were consistent in both types of chickpeas with both varieties responding well to inoculation. In a peat formulation there was a difference. One of the three strains survived poorly on the granules and was not used in the trials. Of the two remaining strains one showed a slight advantage over the other and this was consistent in both desi and kabuli chickpeas. The average response to inoculation over 4 locations ranged from 30% to 47% increase in yields in kabuli and 48% to 60% increase in yields in desi. The response in desi and kabuli chickpeas in site specific as Birsay gave the highest yields in desi chickpeas, while the most responsive with kabuli type chickpeas.