*2.1. Experimental Site and Treatments*

A pot experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil Science research area, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. The soil was characterized as dark brown and saline with JAKHAR soil series [42]. Six treatments were applied in four replication by following two factorial completely randomized designs (CRDs). The treatments were control (without NPK or bacterial strains), recommended NPK fertilizers (RNPKF), *Stenotrophomonas maltophilia*, *Agrobacterium fabrum*, RNPKF + *S. maltophilia,* and RNPKF + *A. fabrum*. All treatments were added in the soil at 2 and 5 mg Cd kg−<sup>1</sup> soil. Artificial toxicity of Cd was developed by using analytical grade salt of CdCl2 [25]. As per treatment plan, two levels of Cd were maintained, i.e., 2 and 5 ppm (mg kg−<sup>1</sup> soil), keeping in mind the Cd concentration of pre-experimental soil. Rhizobacteria were inoculated at the time of sowing. However, required fertilizers were applied at the time of pot preparation.
