Biochar effect to enhance nodulation and suppress root pathogenic fungi in chickpea

The aim of the current research was to explore the impact of biochar and Mesorhizobium ciceri to enhance nodulation and antagonistic expression against soil-borne pathogens nalely Phytophthora medicaginis, Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Chickpea plants grown in vermiculate medium were treated with 5% green waste biochar, nitrate, M. ciceri and one was synergetic treatment (biochar + M. ciceri) which showed significant difference from other treatments and control plants producing an average 60 nodule in each plant with 57.90 mg average weight as compare to M. ciceri, green waste biochar and nitrate treated plant producing 31, 39 and 7 nodules per plant with a weight of 39.5, 46.5 and 35.6 mg nodule^-1, respectively after 60 days of growth. Control plants produced no nodules in first and 2nd harvest but in 3rd harvest, just 2 nodules per plant were observed with 30.5 mg weight. Synergistic treatment also showed a significant difference in shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight but primary root length was small with a cluster of feeding roots. Combination of both the treatments completely inhibited the colony development of chickpea pathogen after three days. Colony diameter of F. solani, F. oxysporum and P. medicaginis was calculated just 0.86, 0.99 and 0.64 cm as compared to control treatment having colony diameter 3.98, 4.45 and 2.80 cm, respectively, after a weak.