This study aimed to evaluate the effects of purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) biofertilizers on soil properties, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptakes, growth, and grain yield of sesame cultivated on salt-affected soil. N2-fixing and P-solubilizing bacteria used as biofertilizers were PNSB Rhodopseudomonas palustris VNW64, VNS89, TLS06 and VNS02, and endophytic bacteria (EB) Enterobacter cloacae X4 and Burkholderia acidipaludis X5. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block
design, with 9 treatments (i) 100% N and 100% P of recommended fertilizer formula (RFF), (ii) 75% N and 50% P, (iii) 50% N and 50% P, (iv) treatment ii plus PNSB biofertilizers, (v) treatment iii plus PNSB biofertilizers, (vi) treatment ii plus EB biofertilizers, (vii) treatment iii plus EB biofertilizers, (viii) PNSB biofertilizers only, and (ix) carriers only, a rice straw and hush ash mixture. Results revealed that application of PNSB biofertilizers significantly improved soil fertility, nutrient uptakes, and yield as compared to treatments that used chemical fertilizers with or without EB biofertilizers at the same amount of N and P fertilizers applied. The use of 75% N and 50% P of RFF plus PNSB biofertilizers enhanced soil pHH2O, NH4 þ, soluble P, and N, P uptakes in sesame as compared to 100% N and 100% P of RFF.
PNSB biofertilizers not only reduced 50% N and 50% P of RFF, but also maintained yield as compared to the treatment using 100% N, P of RFF (6.06 and 6.09 g pot−1, respectively) and limited Na uptake in sesame and Naþ concentration in the soil.