ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Responses of Gossypium barbadense L. Cotton
Plants to Biofertilizers under Different
Levels of Nitrogen Fertilization
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1
Physiology Department, Cotton Research institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
2
Agricultural Biotechnology Department, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University,
Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
3
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Gamma St, Giza 12613, Egypt
4
Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
5
Agricultural Botany Department, Agricultural microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University,
33516, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
6
Agribusiness and Consumer Science Department, College of Agricultural and Food Science,
King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2024-01-27
Final revision date: 2024-03-12
Acceptance date: 2024-03-27
Online publication date: 2024-07-09
Corresponding author
Hossam S. El-Beltagi
Agricultural Biotechnology Department, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
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ABSTRACT
Conventional agricultural practices, which rely heavily on polluting agrochemicals, are pushing us
towards an unsustainable future. Biofertilizers are multifaceted and span the environmental, agricultural,
and economic dimensions. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of plant
growth-promoting bacteria Azotobacter chrocooccum and Pseudomonas sp. and their interaction on the
growth and productivity of cotton (Gossypium barbadense L. vr. Giza CV 97) under different levels of
nitrogen fertilization (50, 75, and 100% nitrogen recommended dose). Nitrogen deficiency resulted in
lower cotton growth, chlorophyll, and stem anatomical parameters as well as yield or yield components
compared to optimal nitrogen fertilization. Application of A. chrocooccum and Pseudomonas sp. and
their interaction mitigated harmful nitrogen deficiency stress. Cotton fiber quality measurements (fiber
length, micronaire, and fiber strength) were insignificantly affected by bacterial biofertilizers and their
interactions under all levels of nitrogen fertilization. A. chrocooccum and Pseudomonas sp. interaction
was the best treatment at all levels of nitrogen fertilization, producing thicker, wider vascular conductive, cortical tissue, and xylem vessel diameters. This treatment also improved cotton growth and gave the
highest seed yield, lint percentage, and boll weight.