Improvement of Nutrient Uptake, Yield of Black Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), and Alluvial Soil Fertility in Dyke by Spent Rice Straw from Mushroom Cultivation as Biofertilizer Containing Potent Strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris

The aim of the current research was to evaluate the effects of members of purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB), Rhodopseudomonas palustris strains of VNW02, TLS06, VNW64, and VNS89, mixed with spent rice straw (SRS) from mushroom cultivation as a carrier on promoting sesame growth and yield, and ameliorating the alluvial soil (AS) fertility in dykes. A 4 × 3 factorial experiment consisting of different levels of the solid PNSB biofertilizer mixture at 0, 3, 4, and 5 t·ha−1 (0, 1.81 × 108, 2.24 × 108, and 2.68 × 108 cells pot−1, respectively), and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inorganic fertilizer rates (100, 75, and 50 kg·N·ha−1; 60, 45, and 30 kg P2O5·ha−1, respectively) was performed in pots with the sesame variety of ADB1 in the dyked AS. The solid PNSB biofertilizer mixture at at least 3 t·ha−1 significantly enhanced the sesame seed yield by providing higher macronutrients for plants by increasing available N and soluble P concentrations in the soil. The solid PNSB biofertilizer mixture in addition to 75% of the recommended N and P fertilizers produced an equivalent yield in comparison to the utilized 100% of N and P inorganic fertilizers. The solid PNSB biofertilizer mixture in the SRS from the mushroom production reduced at least 25% of N and P chemical fertilizers for gaining the maximal seed yield and enriched soil characteristics for the sustainable black sesame cultivation in the dyked AS.


Introduction
Sesame is considered as a healthy and popular food in Asian countries due to its high oil content, delicious nutty aroma, and favor [1,2]. It contains rich nutrients, so it can be used in edible products and for industrial and pharmaceutical aspects [3,4], while 70% of the global sesame seeds are used to generate oil and meal. Te world's sesame seed consumption was 6,559.0 million USD in 2018, and it will be 7,244.9 million USD by 2024 [5]. In Vietnam, black sesame is grown popularly in the Mekong Delta [6], with an area of 29,059 ha and a mean domestic yield of 0.7313 t·ha −1 in 2018 [7].
Alluvial soil (AS) is a soil that is deposited by the surface water and can be found along rivers and their banks, in foodplains and deltas. Tis leads to high nutrient concentrations within the AS; thereby, the soil in An Giang province has been intensively used for crops that lack available nutrients from their indigenous soil [8]. However, because this area is the headwater in the Mekong Delta, the government has established dykes to prevent foods so as to cultivate plants during fooded seasons. As a result, the AS in dykes possessed low fertility for cultivation, especially for black sesame [9].
Te use of fertilizers for sesame is a notorious concern in most aspects in developing countries [10], particularly in Vietnam. Terefore, it is vital to fnd alternative sources to replace chemical fertilizers that can cause adverse impacts on the soil and environment. By recycling agricultural wastes, rice straw (RS) has been used to produce composts as a source of both plant nutrients and microorganisms to improve crop yields and the soil fertility. In addition, the RS has been used for mushroom cultivation; after the mushrooms are harvested, RS turns into spent rice straw (SRS) which can be used as a compost. However, the SRS is a poor soil improver due to its low nutrient value and is poorly decomposed [11]. Te spent rice straw has become an organic waste from mushroom production; therefore, a way should be explored to increase its value in agriculture. Organic fertilizers have been proved for their ability to promote sesame's growth parameters including chlorophyll content, plant heights, number of seeds per capsule, number of capsules per plant, and 1,000-seed weights and seed yields [12,13]. For instance, the application of organic fertilizers and biofertilizers was able to improve the sesame yield, soil fertility, and seed oil quality with higher contents of oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids, but lower contents of linolenic and linoleic acids [14]. Interestingly, the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) processing nitrogen (N) fxing ability and phosphorous (P) solubilization as a biofertilizer could reduce the chemical fertilizer input for sesame [15][16][17] and enhance its N and P uptake [18,19].
Purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) are N-fxers with ability to grow in diferent growth modes as a photoautotroph which can make use of light and carbon dioxide in the environment to produce its own energy via the process of photosynthesis, photoheterotrophs, chemoheterotrophs, and chemoautotrophs depending on the environmental condition [20][21][22]. Tis ability allows the PNSB to survive and perform their functions in various habitats such as wetland and upland soils. Successful applications of the PNSB Rhodopseudomonas spp. as biofertilizers in paddy felds have been reported to improve adverse efects of soil environments such as acidity, salinity, and toxicity [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] to enhance rice growth at diferent stages [25][26][27][28][30][31][32][33] and also rice productivity [29,33]. Additionally, the PNSB promoted the growth of various crops such as sweet herb Stevia rebaudiana [34], cucumber seedling [35,36], and pineapple [37]. Regarding previous studies, it has been suggested that the PNSB can be applied in both wetland and cultivated soils for annual crops; thereby, it would be worth to explore their roles for promoting growth and yield of sesame, particularly in dyked AS.
Interestingly, the biofertilizers of acidic-resistantRhodopseudomonas strains, particularly R. palustris VNW02, TLS06, VNW64, and VNS89 strains which were isolated from various acid sulfate soils [38] can act as plant growth promoters and biofertilizers by reducing Al 3+ and Fe 2+ [23]. Fortunately, the bacteria prefer to grow in the neutral condition, so it would be possible for them to perform their benefts in the AS for promoting sesame growth. In addition to fxing N, the PNSB can solubilize P [20,33] and release metabolites such as siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) [20] to support plants to overcome adverse conditions and low nutrient inputs. Hence, this research aims to evaluate the efciency of promising strains of R. palustris in SRS from mushroom cultivation as a carrier to support sesame growth and yield, along with improving the AS fertility in dykes, for the possibility to achieve an alternative approach to reduce chemical fertilizers for a sustainable sesame cultivation. 2.1.6. Chemical Fertilizers. Te actual chemical fertilizers used were urea for the N application (46% N), superphosphate fertilizer for the P application (16% P 2 O 5 ), and potassium chloride for the K application (60% KCl).

Preparation of PNSB Inoculants
(1) PNSB Preparation. Te four PNSB strains were activated in the basic isolation medium (BIM) broth for 48 h under microaerobic light conditions. After that, the optical density of each culture was adjusted to 1.2 at the wavelength of 660 nm by diluting in sterile distilled water, with the fnal density of 10 9 cells·mL −1 . Each cell suspension was ready to be used as an inoculant.
(2) Sesame Seed Preparation and Bacterization. Te black sesame seeds were frst sanitized by submergence in 70% ethanol for 3 min and 1% sodium hypochlorite for 10 min, and then washed twice with sterile distilled water. Te black sesame seeds were incubated for 24 h under dark conditions for germination. Subsequently, for the seed bacterization, 1,000 sesame seeds were mixed well with a 10 mL bacterial cell suspension of 10 9 cells·mL −1 (2.5 mL for each strain) for 1 h in a reciprocal shaker at 60 rpm. After 2 h of mixing, the seeds were taken out and dried under the laminar air fow before planting. Te control seeds were similarly prepared, but in sterile distilled water instead of the bacterial suspension. Five seeds were grown in a pot, so the density of the mixed 4 PNSB was roughly 0.5 × 10 8 cells pot −1 .

(3) Preparation of the Mixed PNSB Biofertilizer in a Solid
Form. Te SRS from mushroom cultivation was sterilized at 121°C for 30 min and was used as a carrier for the PNSB biofertilizer based on its low nutrient content and poor decomposition. Ten, 10 mL of 4 PNSB inoculants (2.5 × 4 each) was added to 100 g of the carrier and incubated for one week before use. Tis product was named as the solid mixed PNSB biofertilizer containing roughly 10 8 cells g −1 and is called as solid PNSB biofertilizer in short.
(4) Application of the Solid Mixed PNSB Biofertilizer. A 50% of the designated weight of the solid PNSB biofertilizer was applied on the soil surface at 0 and 20 days after sowing. It was put near sesame roots with designated levels. Te solid PNSB biofertilizer consisted of 2.37% N, 1.76% P, 1.20% K, and C/N ratio (20.0); the PNSB density was 0.87 × 10 7 cells·g −1 . Tus, the total PNSB density in each pot was 1.81 × 10 8 cells pot −1 that corresponded to 3 t·ha −1 , 2.24 × 10 8 cells pot −1 for 4 t·ha −1 , and 2.68 × 10 8 cells pot −1 for 5 t·ha −1 . Te methods were described by Sparks et al. [39]. In detail, the total N, P, K, and C contents were measured by the Kjeldahl, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and ash methods, respectively.

Soil and Fertilizer Preparation for Planting
(1) Soil Preparation. RS residues were removed from the used soil before mixing to avoid its efects on the soil fertility and drying in the ambient atmosphere. Ten, 10 kg of soil in each pot was moistened with roughly 1 L pot −1 of tap water for 2 days before sowing.
(2) Chemical Fertilizer Formula. N, P, and K fertilizers were used as the recommendation formula of 100N-60P 2 O 5 -30K 2 O. Each treatment was applied as a designated volume. Te fertilization was divided into 4 times. For the frst time, 100% phosphorus was applied as a base. In the second time, 10 days after sowing (DAS), 30% N and 50% K were applied. In the third time, 40% N was applied at 20 DAS. Finally, 30% N and 50% K were applied [6].

Analyzed Methods of Soil Property
(1) Initial and Harvest Soil Property. Te methods for the soil analysis are described as follows: Soil chemical parameters in Table 1 were analyzed using methods described by Sparks et al. [39]. Briefy, for the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements, soil samples were separately extracted using 1 M KCl (pH KCl ) or deionized water (pH H2O ) at a ratio of 1 : 5 for soil : solvent. Te total iron was determined by using the ICP-OES. Te Al exchangeable concentration was extracted by 1 M KCl, and the spectrophotometric method was employed for the aluminum ion quantization from the soil supernatant by the fuorometric analysis of the Al 3+ content with 8-hydroxyquinoline and butyl acetate. Te Fe active concentration in soil samples was extracted by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Te digested solution was used for the amorphous iron oxide analysis, which was analyzed by ammonium oxalate acid in the dark and detected by the modifed Tamm's reagent. Te ferrozine method was described for determination of the Fe 2+ concentration via the 1,10-phenanthroline reagent using a visible spectrophotometer at the wavelength of 562 nm. Te available P was determined by the Bray II methods, and fractions of inorganic P were extracted by 0.5 M NH 4 F, 0.1 M NaOH, and 0.25 M H 2 SO 4 for aluminum-phosphorus (Al- Values are mean and its standard deviation, n � 3. Te Scientifc World Journal P), iron-phosphorus (Fe-P), and calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P), respectively. Te total N was quantifed by the regular Kjeldahl method via destruction of organic N prior to the inorganic N determination. Te NH 4 + −N concentration was distillated by a titrimetric procedure. Te dichromate oxidation procedure by the thermal conductivity technique of sulfuric acid was utilized for converting to the inorganic carbon from organic carbon compounds prior to titrate with ferrous sulfate heptahydrate for the total carbon determination. Te cation exchange capacity (CEC): A compulsive exchange method has been recommended for the determination of CEC in the soil. Tis extracted solution was also used for the analysis of potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium by an atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
(2) PNSB Population. Te density of the PNSB from the harvest soil was enumerated by the most probable number technique as described by Harada et al. [40] and modifed by Kantachote et al. [29].

Experimental Design.
A two factorial experiment on sesame cultivation was designed in completely randomized blocks for adding the solid PNSB biofertilizer with four levels of 0, 3, 4, and 5 t·ha −1 and the chemical fertilizer with three levels of 50, 75, and 100% of N and P of the recommendation formula of chemical fertilizer (RC). Terefore, the experiment consisted of 12 sets as follows: 3 t·ha −1 of the biofertilizer with 50, 75, and 100% of N and P; 4 t·ha −1 of the biofertilizer with 50, 75, and 100% of N and P; and 5 t·ha −1 of biofertilizer with 50, 75, and 100% of N and P, with 4 replications. Te experiment was carried out in the greenhouse for 85 days.

Measurements of Agronomic Parameters
(1) Sesame Growth Parameters. Te plant height (cm) was measured from the soil surface to the highest point of the plants. Te number of leaves was counted as the total number of leaves on the main stem. Te length of leaves was determined from the leaf collar to the leaf tip. Te width of leaves was determined at the largest size of a leaf. Te number of branches was counted from the bottom to the top, with the length of branch at least 3 cm. Te number of capsules per plant was counted at harvest. Te length of capsule was determined between two tips of a capsule. Te dry biomass: Components of stem-leaf, shell, and seed were dried at 70°C for 72 h and the dry biomass was weighed. All parameters were measured according to Fazeli Kakhki et al. [18].
(2) Biochemical Parameters. Te leaf chlorophyll content was determined by Moran [41]. Te 10 th leaf from the soil surface of 5 plants was collected after 30 days of sowing. A total of 1 cm 2 of each leaf was added to each Eppendorf containing 3 mL·N,N-dimethylformamide for 24 h in an incubator at 25°C. Te solution was determined by a spectrophotometer at the wavelengths of 664 and 647 nm for detecting chlorophyll a and b, respectively. Afterwards, chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll contents (C a , C b , and C t ) were calculated as follows: (1) Te Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) index was directly detected on the 12 th leaf from the soil surface by SPAD-502 Plus according to the guide of the Konica Minolta manufacturer.
(3) Agronomic Traits. Sesame yield components and yields were determined on the capsule length, capsule diameter, number of capsules plant −1 , number of flled capsules plant −1 , percentage of capsules plant −1 , number of seeds capsule −1 , number of flled seeds capsule −1 , percentage of flled seeds capsules −1 , and a-thousand-seed oven-dry weight.

Analyzed Methods of Plant Property
(1) Analysis of N total , P total , and K total Concentrations in Sesame at Harvest. Te stem-leaf, shell, and seed samples of each set were collected and dried at 70°C for 72 h. Ten, they were ground to pass through a 0.5 mm sieve for the total analysis of all parameters. Te N total , P total , and K total in stemleaf, shell, and seed were investigated. Te total N, P, and K concentrations were determined by following the methods of Houba et al. [42]. Te N total was determined by the regular Kjeldahl method, the P total concentration was determined by colorimetric procedure at the wavelength of 880 nm, and the K total content was determined by using the ICP-OES.
(2) Determination of N total , P total , and K total Accumulation in Sesame at Harvest. Te amount of N, P, and K uptake was calculated from stem-leaf, shell, and seed biomass multiplied by each concentration of each component. Te total uptake was calculated from all parts.

Statistical Analysis.
Te data shown in this paper are mean values of the four replications. Te data were subjected to the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the SPSS software package version 13.0. Te signifcant diferences were assessed by Duncan's post hoc tests at P < 0.05.

Efects of the Solid PNSB Biofertilizer on the Growth of
Sesame. Te application of the solid PNSB biofertilizer signifcantly improved the plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches compared with the control (without the PNSB biofertilizer) ( Table 2). Te plant height (65.7-68.3 cm) while being supplemented from 3 to 5 t·ha −1 of the solid PNSB biofertilizer was signifcantly higher than the control (63.4 cm). Tis led to a much higher number of leaves as well. However, no improvement in length and width of leaves by the solid PNSB biofertilizer was observed.

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For the chemical fertilizer, the reduction in amounts of N and P signifcantly decreased the plant height, number of leaves, and width of leaves, i.e., the plant height of the treatment applied with 50-75% N and P of the RC achieved 63.5-66.2 cm, and it was lower than the 100% N treatment, 68.6 cm ( Table 2). Te concentration of the chlorophylla and the total chlorophyll were higher in treatments applied with 75-100% N and P of the RC as compared with the one with 50% N and P of RC, with 10.7-10.9 and 8.78 µg·Chl·mL −1 and 13.7-13.9 and 11.2 µg·Chl·mL −1 . Te SPAD value also showed the same trend (Table 2).

Efects of the Solid PNSB Biofertilizer on the Nutrient
Uptake. Both factors (the biofertilizer and the chemical fertilizer) produced a positive efect on the N concentration, with higher N values in plant parts of stem-leaf, shell, and seed (0.16-0.19, 0.16-0.21, and 0.92-0.94% DW) in the treatments applied with the solid PNSB biofertilizer, compared with 0.14, 0.15, and 0.86% DW showed by the control (no added PNSB biofertilizer). Te P concentrations showed a similar trend, with an exception for P content in seed. Te K concentration was in the same pattern with the N concentration, its value with and without application found in stem-leaf (4.84-4.98 and 4.24% DW), shell (1.74-2.44 and 1.57% DW), and seed (0.15-0.16 and 0.12% DW). Increasing of N and P fertilizers input also enhanced N and P concentrations in seeds to 0.86, 0.90, and 0.96% N and 0.74, 0.76, and 0.76% P as in the order of 50, 75, and 100% N and P of the RC (Table 3).
Te N, P, and K uptake values in sesame parts are recorded in Table 4. Tere were signifcant diferences in the N, P, and K uptake between the solid PNSB biofertilizer level and between the N and P fertilizers input level (Table 4). A decrease in adding both factors reduced the total N uptake as follows: 0.173, 0.125, and 0.106 g·pot −1 for 100, 75, and 50% N and P of the RC, respectively, while it was 0.154, 0.150, 0.132, and 0.102 g·pot −1 for 5, 4, 3, and 0 t·ha −1 of the solid PNSB biofertilizer (Figure 1). Te total P uptake showed the same trend with 0.203 g·pot −1 for 100% N and P of the RC, 0.158 g·pot −1 for 75% N and P of the RC, and 0.137 g·pot −1 for 50% N and P of the RC and ranged 0.134-0.184 g·pot −1 for the diferent solid PNSB biofertilizer levels ( Figure 2). Regarding the total K uptake, the result ranged 0.446-0.693 g·pot −1 between the recommended N and P fertilizer levels and 0.426-0.642 g·pot −1 among the solid PNSB biofertilizer levels (Figure 3).  9 seeds, and 95.0-99.7%, respectively, while in the control, values were correspondingly 2.40 cm, 12.6 capsules, 11.9 capsules, 112.2 seeds, and 94.4%. Te decrease of N and P fertilizers resulted in a signifcant decrease in the diameter of capsule and number of seeds per capsule. However, there was no signifcant diference between two factors in the weight of 1,000 seeds, with the mean value of 2.45 g. An increase in adding N and P fertilizers signifcantly improved the seed yield, with the volume of 50, 75, and 100% as in the degree of 10.5 < 12.1 < 15.9 g·pot −1 . Tus, the supplement of the solid PNSB biofertilizer produced a higher yield than the control, with 12.3-14.5 g·pot −1 in comparison with 10.3 g·pot −1 ( Table 5).

Efects of the Solid PNSB Biofertilizer Mixture on the Soil
Fertility. Te application of the solid PNSB biofertilizer helped to reduce acidity as pH values of treatments were in a range of 6.28-6.48, which were signifcantly higher than the control (6.09). It is a similar trend to the potential acidity of pH KCl in the applied PNSB biofertilizer, with higher pH of 5.43-5.73 in comparison with 5.12 in the control. However, no signifcant diference was found for the chemical fertilizer among N and P levels in pH H2O and pH KCl (Table 6).
Te amendment of the solid PNSB biofertilizer signifcantly enhanced the concentrations of both the total N and total P; however, the chemical fertilizers application did not change their concentrations in the soil. Specifcally, the total N and P were determined as 0.213-0.232% N and 0.039-0.041% P in the solid PNSB biofertilizer treatments, while in the control, they were 0.185% N and 0.031% P. Similarly, the solid PNSB biofertilizer application signifcantly increased the available ammonium, with the concentrations of 0, 3, 4, and 5 t·ha −1 as 98.2∼87.8 < 128.2 < 136.5 mg NH 4 + kg −1 , whilst in the chemical fertilizer, results were recorded as 126.2 mg NH 4 + kg −1 for 100% of the RC, 108.3 mg NH 4 + kg −1 for 75% of the RC, and 103.7 mg NH 4 + kg −1 for 50% of the RC (Table 6).
For the P content in the soil, the amendment of the solid PNSB biofertilizer signifcantly increased the total P, but the N and P chemical fertilizers application still maintained the same concentration. Tis led to a signifcant increase in the soluble P in the soil for the solid PNSB biofertilizer sets. For example, treatments of the solid PNSB biofertilizer possessed 34.9-43.6 mg·P·kg −1 , but it was only 28.8 mg·P·kg −1 in the control. Moreover, the P fractions in application with solid PNSB biofertilizer were less than in without application as in the Al-P (51.8-62.9, 72.9 mg·kg −1 ), Fe-P (316.3-317.4, 329.4 mg·kg −1 ), and Ca-P (123.4-127.1, 146.1 mg·kg −1 ) concentrations, respectively (Table 6).

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Te organic matter content was signifcantly diferent between adding the solid PNSB biofertilizer and no PNSB addition as the control. Te former soil was analyzed as 2.19-2.67% C, while the latter soil was detected at 1.29% C. Besides, the exchangeable K content in the treatment with the solid PNSB biofertilizer in the former soil was higher than in the control, with 0.445-0.543 and 0.353 meq 100 g −1 , respectively (Table 6).

Discussion
Increasing chemical fertilizers resulted in higher sesame growth and yield (Tables 2 and 5). Nitrogen fertilizer plays a key role in increasing the chlorophyll content; it can be seen that the chlorophyll concentration of 75 and 100% N application was signifcantly higher than that of the dose of 50% (Table 2). It was also confrmed by SPAD values    (Table 2). Tis can be explained by an increase in yield components comprising of the number of capsules, the percentage of flled capsules per plant, the number of seeds per capsule, the percentage of flled seeds per capsule, and the capsule size (Table 5). Tese results showed that in the indigenous soil, N and P concentrations did not meet the nutrient requirements for sesame, so sesame growth and yield responded to inorganic N and P fertilizers application. Tis is the reason why the supplementation of the PNSB biofertilizer at 4-6 t·ha −1 signifcantly increased 30.7-39.0% of ammonium and 21.2-51.4% of soluble P as compared with the control. Tere are reasons for the rise in sesame yield.    Firstly, the N, P, and K contents contained in the mixed PNSB biofertilizer was 2.37% N, 1.76% P, and 1.20% K, and in the SRS, lower values of 1.98% N, 0.76% P, and 0.98% K were recorded. Secondly, the ratio of C/N (19.7) is proper for use as a biocompost in agriculture, while that of this study was 28.7. Te PNSB promoted sesame growth by acting as biofertilizers and plant growth promoters that induced plants by releasing substances such as ALA and IAA into the soil [30]. Te role of the PNSB biofertilizer containing R. palustris TLS06, VNW02, VNW64, and VNS89 strains has been reported for their impacts on rice growth and productivity in an application as a biofertilizer [25,27,33]. Other biofertilizers containing strains of PNSB also play a key function to help plant growth. Specifcally, the R. palustris PSB06 strain stimulated the rice growth at the seedling stage by root elongation of seeds [43], and the R. palustris also increased the fresh biomass of rice seedlings [44] and rice grain yield [29,30]. Tus, the biofertilizer containing the R. palustris TLS06, VNW02, VNW64, and VNS89 strains encouraged sesame growth by inoculating into seeds and also in a form of a solid mixed biofertilizer into the soil. Moreover, the R. palustris inoculation might help recovery of the soil community to reduce adverse efects caused by chemical fertilization [34].
Te application of the solid PNSB biofertilizer mixture resulted in a remarkable improvement in the soil characteristics with higher concentrations of ammonium and soluble P by the activities of N fxation and P solubilization, respectively. It is obvious that the PNSB strains from the biofertilizer fxed N 2 from the air, so the treatments of the biofertilizer application obtained higher values than those without PNSB biofertilizer application. Similarly, the PNSB from the solid biofertilizer solubilized the insoluble P fractions in the AS in dykes. Tus, the biofertilizer application treatments produced more nutrients than those without PNSB biofertilizer treatments (Table 6). According to Sakpirom et al. [45,46], the R. palustris TN110 strain possessed N fxing genes such as nifH, vnfG, and anfG under various conditions, so it can release the ammonium for sesame, i.e., the ammonium content in the soil was higher by 30.7-39.0% in the treatments applied with 4-5 t·ha−1 of the mixed biofertilizer than in the control (Table 3). Te TLS06 and VNW64 strains have genes for N fxation including nifH and anfG [47]. Tese PNSB biofertilizers possessed the functions of N fxing and P solubilizing by releasing acid phosphatase and phytase enzymes [20,27,33]. Although the function of K solubilization of those PNSB has not been tested in the current research and in the previous experiments, the exchangeable K was still higher in the PNSB biofertilizer treatments than in the treatment with no applied PNSB biofertilizer. Tis encouraged that the function should be tested in the future for those PNSB as well. According to Ge and Zhang [36], PNSB strains also produced higher K concentrations due to their ability to solubilize K. It should be noted that the PNSB population (6.14-6.92 MPN g −1 DSW) from treatments of the solid biofertilizer was signifcantly higher than without PNSB biofertilizer treatment, 1.94 MPN·g −1 DSW. Besides, the application at 3-5 t·ha −1 of the solid PNSB biofertilizer supplied much organic matter from the SRS, resulting in higher contents in comparison with the control (Table 6). Tis means that the solid PNSB biofertilizer performed a huge improvement in soil quality and soil fertility. Tis is because the biofertilizer containing R. palustris TLS06, VNW02, VNW64, and VNS89 strains can ameliorate soil quality by reducing the toxicities of Al 3+ and Fe 2+ concentrations by producing exopolymeric substances and siderophores [20,23] and enrich the soil fertility by increasing NH 4 + and PO 4 3− in acid sulfate soils [27,33]. PNSB biofertilizers also have ability to reduce Mn 2+ toxicity [25] and toxicities of other metals, such as Pb, Hg, and Cd, by exopolymers secreted by the R. palustris PI5 strain and Rhodobacter sp. [48] or the Rhodobacter sphaeroides SC01 strain [49].
Tis PNSB group in the solid mixed biofertilizer produced more available plant nutrients in the soil, so sesame can absorb, contributing to improving the N, P, and K uptake. Te percentage of N, P, and K accumulation signifcantly increased by 29.4-51.0, 22.4-37.3, and 30.8-50.7%, respectively (Figures 1-3). Te solid PNSB biofertilizer application promoted the sesame growth under the low N and P input; thereby, the PNSB biofertilizer produced a big increase in the sesame yield by 40.8% (Table 5). To sum up, the biofertilizer containing the R. palustris TLS06, VNW02, VNW64, and VNS89 strains showed a promising application as a biofertilizer to improve soil properties, nutrient uptake, and crop yield. Tus, in the application at 4-5 t·ha −1 of the solid biofertilizer containing R. palustris, TLS06, VNW02, VNW64, and VNS89 strains plus 75% N and P of chemical fertilizers produced the seed yield of 13.7-13.9 g·pot −1 , which was equal to that of the 100% N and P of chemical fertilizers. Hence, the solid PNSB biofertilizer contributed to reducing 25% of the chemical fertilizers.

. Conclusion
Te application at 3, 4, and 5 t·ha −1 of SRS containing the biofertilizer of Rhodopseudomonas palustris TLS06, VNW02, VNW64, and VNS89 strains in corporation with the chemical fertilizer signifcantly improved the growth of sesame based on agronomic parameters compared with the control with no PNSB biofertilizer. Tere was a remarkable increase in the N, P, and K uptake in sesame according to the application of the biofertilizer. Te sesame seed yield increased along with the increase in the solid mixed PNSB biofertilizer levels, with 12.3 g·pot −1 at 3 t·ha −1 , 14.5 at 4 t·ha −1 , and 14.3 at 5 t·ha −1 compared with the control, 10.3 g·pot −1 . Signifcant increases in the pH value, ammonium, soluble phosphorus, organic matter, and exchangeable potassium indicated that the fertility of the alluvial soil was improved by the solid mixed PNSB biofertilizer for the sustainable sesame cultivation in dykes.

Data Availability
Te data presented in this article are available from the corresponding author upon request. 12 Te Scientifc World Journal