*3.4. Nitrogen Concentration in Bitter Gourd*

PGPRs and RNPKF significantly (*p* ≤ 0.05) changed the nitrogen concentration of bitter gourd (NB) under different levels of Cd. Main effects of PGPRs and RNPKF were significant on NB at 2 and 5 mg kg−<sup>1</sup> soil. However, the interaction of PGPRs and RNPKF was non-significant, ordinal at 2 and 5 mg Cd kg−<sup>1</sup> soil for NB. It was observed that RNPKF + *S. maltophilia* and RNPKF + *A. fabrum* were significantly different as compared to control at 2 and 5 mg Cd kg−<sup>1</sup> soil for NB (Figure 9). Heavy metal Cd showed significant negative correlation (−0.4812; *p* = 0.0030) with NB. However, PGPRs (0.4391; *p* = 0.0074) showed significant and RNPKF (0.2041; *p* = 0.2324) showed non-significant positive correlation with NB (Figure 10). The maximum increase of 48 and 56% in NB was observed from control where RNPKF + *S. maltophilia* was applied at 2 and 5 mg Cd kg−<sup>1</sup> soil, respectively.

**Figure 9.** Nitrogen concentration in bitter gourd (%) treated with PGPRs, RNPKF, and their combination under 2 and 5 mg Cd kg−<sup>1</sup> soil. Different small letters express significant differences (*<sup>p</sup>* <sup>≤</sup> 0.05).
