Sobir Mustanov 1, Zarnigor Mustanova 2, Gulom Gaybullaev 1, Pirnazar Bobomirzaev 1, Alisher Makhmatmurodov 1, Lola Xalmirzayeva 1, Makhsuda Bekmuradova 3, Zafar Nurmurzaev 3, Diyor Abduraxmanov 3, Mamura Ergasheva 3, Mekhriniso Bobokandova 3, Nasiba Khodjayeva 4, Elnura Khamdamova 5, Vakhob Rakhmonov 1,6 and Nodirjon Bobokandov 1*
1Samarkand Agroinnovations and Research University, Dakhbed Street, 140100 Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 2Samarkand Regional Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 3Samarkand State Medical University, 140104 Amir Temur Street, 18A Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 4Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnologies, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 5Samarkand Branch of Tashkent State University of Economics; 6Samarkand State University, University Boulevard 15, 140104, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
*Corresponding author: nb?b?q?nd?v@gm?il.??m
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of sowing time, planting scheme, and the application of the biological inoculant Rizovit-AKS on the growth, yield performance, and nitrogen fixation capacity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under the agro-climatic conditions of the Samarkand region. The experiment was carried out during the growing season using a randomized block design with three replications. Different sowing dates and planting schemes were tested, with and without inoculant treatment. The results revealed that both sowing time and plant spacing significantly influenced chickpea growth dynamics, nodulation activity, and grain yield. The use of the Rizovit-AKS inoculant notably enhanced the number and weight of nodules, increased biological nitrogen fixation, and improved seed protein content and yield quality parameters. The highest grain yield and economic efficiency were obtained when chickpea was sown at the optimal date (second decade of March) with a row spacing of 45 × 10cm and inoculated with Rizovit-AKS. Compared with the uninoculated control, inoculated variants showed a 15–25% increase in seed yield and a 20–30% increase in nitrogen fixation potential. The results demonstrate that optimizing sowing time and scheme combined with effective rhizobial inoculation can substantially improve the agrobiological productivity and sustainability of chickpea cultivation under the soil and climatic conditions of Uzbekistan.