Integrated Use of Nitrogen Fertilization and Microbial Inoculation: Change in the Growth and Chemical Composition of White Cabbage

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of seed and seedling inoculation by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on nitrogen use efficiency, growth, yield, and chemical composition of cabbage at varying levels of nitrogen (N). Data revealed that N alone or in combination with PGPR either as seed or seedling inoculation significantly improved growth, yield, and nutrients of cabbage. PGPR inoculations were more efficient than non-inoculated controls in terms of yield and yield parameters. This study showed that seed and seedling inoculation increased yield and yield parameters as well as chlorophyll reading value and stomatal conductance versus controls. Applications of mineral fertilizers with microbial applications save 25% of mineral fertilizers yet give 33% more yield versus full doses of mineral application without microbial applications. Both seed and seedling treatments increased the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) rates by 45, 53, 58, 45, and 40%, and 49, 59, 68, 69, 60, and 55%, respectively. © 2016 Taylor & Francis