Response of cotton to plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation under different levels of nitrogen

Abstract

A study was conducted at Cotton Research Station, Multan during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 to examine the effect of PGPR inoculation alone and in combination with three levels of mineral nitrogen fertilizer (0-56-60, 56-56-60 and 112-56-60 kg NPK/ha) on cotton (cv. MNH-552). The bacterial inoculum (50 g / kg of seed) significantly increased seed cotton yield (21%), plant height (5%) and microbial population in soil (41 %) over their respective controls while boll weight, GOT and staple length remained statistically unaffected. Further field studies are needed to investigate the role of PGPR in improving the yield of non- legumes.