Application of PGPB Consortia to Reduce Nitrogen Fertilization in Oilseed Rape (Brassica Napus) Under Field Conditions
摘要
Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is a globally important crop, but its high nitrogen (N) demand raises environmental concerns. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) may offer a sustainable alternative to reduce mineral fertilization while maintaining yield and seed quality. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of two bacterial consortia: P1A (Pseudomonas sp. G31 + Azotobacter sp. PBC2) and P2A (Pseudomonas sp. KR227 + Azotobacter sp. PBC1) to enable a 30% reduction in N fertilization under field conditions in temperate transitional climate (Poland). The experiment included treatments with full nitrogen (100%N), reduced nitrogen fertilization (70%N) combined with bacterial consortia, and an uninoculated control. For the determination of soil, plant, and seed parameters, spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and standard analytical methods were applied. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly enhanced in soils treated with 70% N + P1A, while chlorophyll (a + b) content in plant leaves reached its highest levels under full nitrogen fertilization and remained elevated in 70%N + PGPB treatments compared to uninoculated control. Primarily results showed that 70%N + bacterial consortia achieved slightly higher seed yield and thousand-seed weight (TSW) compared to control and full N fertilization (100% N), with TSW significantly higher than the control. Seed quality parameters - oil content, fatty acid profile, and NPK levels - remained largely unaffected by fertilization strategy, suggesting that PGPB can sustain seed quality even with reduced N inputs. In addition, soil inoculation with P2A consortium counteracted the acidification caused by N fertilizer. These findings demonstrate that integrating PGPB with 70%N fertilization maintains productivity while aligning with sustainable agriculture goals, offering a viable strategy to lower synthetic N use in oilseed rape cultivation.