The effect of combined Azospirillum inoculation and nitrogen fertilizer on plant growth promotion and yield response of the blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella

The investigation was carried out to examine the performance of Azospirillum isolates on growth and N uptake of Gaillardia pulchella with two nitrogen levels. Azospirillum strain OAD-2 inoculation significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, branches per plant and total dry mass accumulation in G. pulchella than other inoculations and/or uninoculated control. The application of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ further enhanced the above plant growth parameters significantly over application of 112 kg N ha⁻¹. The N uptake of G. pulchella was enhanced due to Azospirillum strain OAD-2 inoculation, which was further augmented in the presence of nitrogen. The combination of Azospirillum strain OAD-2 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹ showed the highest N uptake at 120 DAT. Plant growth and yield parameters also increased when inoculated with the non-diazotrophic, but efficient IAA producing, Azospirillum strain OAD-57. From this investigation, it can be concluded that Azospirillum strains OAD-2 and OAD-11 can play an important role in the N nutrition of G. pulchella.