Effect of Mesorhizobium Inoculation on Yield and Yield‐Related Traits of Chickpea in Ethiopia: A Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT

Mesorhizobium inoculation is a cost‐effective nitrogen source for sustainable chickpea production. This meta‐analysis aimed to (1) estimate the impacts of mesorhizobium inoculation on chickpea grain yield and associated parameters in Ethiopian conditions and (2) quantify how various moderators influence this response. Following strict eligibility criteria, 22 publications were selected. Analysis was performed in R using the metafor package. The log response ratio (lnRR) was used as the effect size and back‐transformed to percentage change for interpretation. This study provides the first quantitative synthesis confirming the positive effect of mesorhizobium inoculation under Ethiopian smallholder conditions. Inoculation significantly increased grain yield by 12% and both biomass yield and pod number by approximately 10%. However, effects on hundred‐seed weight and harvest index were nonsignificant. Yield improvements were greater in Kabuli types than in Desi types. The yield response was highest in the Oromia region (14.8%), and under wet (20%), highland (20%), and temperate (13%) conditions. Regarding soil factors, the greatest yield increases were observed in moderately acidic soils (19%), and in soils with very low total nitrogen (15%). Furthermore, yield increments due to inoculation were positively correlated with increasing soil phosphorus content. While the amount of improvement varies with genotype, strain, and environment, mesorhizobium inoculation consistently enhances chickpea productivity. These findings support the promotion of inoculation for sustainable chickpea production across diverse Ethiopian agro‐ecologies.