Effect of combined application of vermicompost and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on seed yield in Sesame

To study the effect of vermicompost and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield indices, oil and protein percent and element concentration of seed in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), a greenhouse experiment has been conducted in factorial based on completely randomized design with four replications at Vali-e-Asr university of Rafsanjan in 2014. Experiment factors include four levels of vermicompost (zero (V0), 1 (V1), 2 (V2), and 4 (V3) percent) and five bacterial levels (without bacteria (B0), inoculation with an isolate from fluorescent pseudomonads group, having ability to dissolve inorganic phosphate (B1), Azospirillum sp. (B2), Azotobacter sp. (B3), and with the ability to fix nitrogen and a mixture of three bacteria (B4)). The results show that the application of vermicompost and PGPR alone significantly increase oil percentage (up to 80.7% and 15.4%, respectively), potassium, iron, and manganese concentration in seed sesame. Also, simultaneous application of vermicompost and PGPR are significantly enhanced along with weight of seeds, number and weight of capsule, protein of seed and concentration of nitrogen, phosphorous and copper in seed sesame. In general, the combined application of vermicompost and growth-promoting bacteria, through a synergistic relationship, have increased the yield and the content of mineral elements of sesame seeds.