Inoculation not only enhanced yields but also influenced
the nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in grain and straw
(Table 3). Application of triple combination of strainsB. megaterium,
A. chlorophenolicusandEnterobacterwas recorded significant and
maximum 126.2% N acquisition in grain and 178.0% in straw
followed by dual inoculated treatment as compared to uninoculated control. On the other hand single inoculation of Enterobacter
showed significant superior overB. megateriumregarding N uptake
by straw. The significant increase in P-acquisition was even higher
154.8% with triple combination ofB. megaterium, A. chlorophenolicus
and Enterobacter followed by 105.7% in B. megateriumas compared to uninoculated control. However, dual inoculated strains
A. chlorophenolicusandEnterobactersignificantly caused 1.82 fold
N uptake in grain and 2.05 fold in straw and also 1.81 and 1.72 fold
P uptake in grain and straw, respectively over uninoculated control.
All the single and combined application of PGPR strains showed
significant resulted in P acquisition in grain and straw over uninoculated control.
3.4. Plant growth, yields and test weight infield
Application of PGPR strains significantly increased plant height
by combined and single inoculated strain ofEnterobacteras compared to uninoculated control (Table 4). Maximum 29.41% plant
heightwasobservedwithcombinedstrains B. megaterium,
A. chlorophenolicus and Enterobacter over uninoculated control.
Similarly triple combination of strains also significantly showed
27.52% grain and 29.52% straw followed with dual combination of
A. chlorophenolicusandEnterobacter, respectively as compared to
uninoculated control. However, single inoculation strains increased
8–18% plant height, 7.6–14.2% grain yield and 6.8–13.6% straw yield
over uninoculated control. Combined inoculation of dual and triple
treatments was showed significant in grain test weight and
smaximum 17.6% gave by triple combination of B. megaterium,
A. chlorophenolicusandEnterobacterthan uninoculated control.
3.5. Acquisition of nitrogen and phosphorus infield
The macronutrient acquisition of wheat as calculated by dry
matter yieldnutrient concentration of grain and straw that caused
significant increased over uninoculated control (Table 4). Combined
treatment of B. megaterium, A. chlorophenolicusand Enterobacter
significantly showed 60.4% and 85.3% N acquisition by grain and
straw, respectively as compared to uninoculated control. Dual
inoculated strains caused 1.42 fold more N acquisition in grain and
1.68 fold in straw than uninoculated control while single inoculation
strains increased N acquisition 1.18–1.39 fold in grain and 1.13–1.52
fold in straw. All the inoculated PGPR treatments were observed
significantly better over uninoculated control in causing greater N
acquisition by grain and straw. Acquisition of P in grain was
significantly recorded 69.7% higher with triple combination of
B. megaterium, A. chlorophenolicusandEnterobacteras compared to