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BIOFERTILIZERS

1. General introduction2. Classification of Biofertilizers3. Application of Biofertilizers4. PRECAUTIONS ADOPTED IN USING

BIOFERTILIZERS5. Some specific benefits of Biofertilizers6. GENERAL BENEFITS OF BIOFERTILIZERS 7. CONSTRAINTS IN BIOFERTILIZER TECHNOLOGY8. CONCLUSION9. References

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Adequate supply of plant nutrients is necessary for proper growth of crop plants.

In nature there are certain microorganisms and minute plants which can absorb gaseous nitrogen directly from the atmosphere and make it available to plants.

Similarly some others can convert unavailable forms of phosphorus compounds in the soil into forms available to the plants.

Biofertilizers are the products containing living cells of microorganisms that have the ability to mobilize nutrients from non-usable form through biological process.

Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly and renewable sources of plant nutrients to supplement chemical fertilizers.

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There are two main types of Biofertilizers:

Biofertilizers

Nitrogen Fixing Biofertilizer (NBF)

Phosphorus Solubilising

Biofertilizers (PBF)

NBF for legumes Rhizobium NBF for cereals

Azotobactor,Azolla,Blue Green Algae, Azospirillum

Phosphate Solubilizer Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Penicillium

Phosphate Absorber Vascular Articular Mycorrhiza(VAM)

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These biofertilizers add Nitrogen to the soil by reducing atmospheric Nitrogen. Major types are:

1. Rhizobium: (legume association),

It is crop specific and used to inoculate legumes.

It has the ability to fix atmospheric Nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes and certain non-legumes like Parasponia

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2. Azotobactor:

It is a free living (non- association) aerobic Nitrogen fixing bacteria commonly found in close association with vegetable crops.

Azotobactor chroococcum is abundant in acidic and erable soil while A.beijerinckii is in neutral and alcali soils.

It is also effective for cereals , millets and sugarcane

3. Azospirillum: It is non-crop specific and is mainly used for cereal crops.

A. brasilense and A.lipoferum are popular in India. The crops respond to Azospirillium: maize, sorghum,

tomato, chillies, cabbage etc.

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4. Blue Green Algae (BGA, Anabeana azolla) They are photosynthetic nitrogen fixers.

They are also called Cyanobacteria and are free-living organisms.

It is also found to grow in a paddy field and marsh land.

BGA is living in the epidermal cavity of the lower side of the leaf of the Azolla pinnata in symbiotic association

5. Azolla pinnata Azolla is a water fern and it is considered as aquatic weed,

It is found in tanks, channels etc

It is seen associated with rice field.

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Belonging to the bacteria genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus and fungi to the genera Penicillium and Aspegillus

They posses the ability to solubilise the bound phosphates in the soil and increase its availability to plant,

The common phosphate solubilising bacteria and fungus are Pseudomonas striata, Bacillus polymixa, Penicillium digitatum and Aspegillus awamoori

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Mycorrhiza or Vascular Arbicular Mycorrhiza (VAM)

Are mutualistic symbioses or associations between soil fungi and plant roots.

VAM helps in phosphorus nutrition by not only increasing its availability but also increasing its mobility,

VAM improves the uptake of Zinc, Copper and water,

Because VAM are obligate symbionts, they require a plant host for their production.

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Bio-fertilizers can be used in different ways as follows:

Seed inoculation method: The seeds that are treated with biofertilizer are kept in shed for 30 minutes and then the seeds become ready for sowing.

Root inoculation method: The seedlings that are uprooted from nursery and cleaned their roots in water and dipped in the solution of biofertilizer and kept at least for 20 minutes. The seedlings are then transplanted in the main field.

Soil application: The mixture of bio-fertilizer + compost + soil applied on land before sowing of seed or transplanting of seedling in the main field.

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No other fertilizers or insecticides/ fungicides should be mixed with seeds that are treated with biofertilizer.

The seed treatment, if required, should be done at least 24 hours before mixing the seeds with biofertilizers.

Use of organic manures is essential to get the good result of biofertilizers.

The packet of biofertilizers should not be kept in damp place in bright sun.

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1. Rhizobium

Rhizobial inoculation was found beneficial to fix atmospheric Nitrogen from 15 to 35 kg/ha in a season on different pulse crops.

Rhizobial inoculation improves the soil fertility, increases the grain yield from 8 to 15 % in various grain legumes under different agro-climatic conditions.

Rhizobial inoculation can save up to 25 % of Nitrogen fertilizer application in dry land and irrigated crops.

The use of Rhizobium on legumes significantly benefitted various intercrops and relay crops cultivated in multi various cropping sequence.

Maximum residual effect was also seen in Soybean inoculated plot which benefitted the succeeding cereal or millet crops.

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2. BGA It increases the organic matter content of

soil. It releases the amino-acid in the soil. It brings the insoluble phosphate to the

available from of plant. It makes the plant hormone like Auxin,

Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), Gibberellic Acid.

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3. Azolla Azolla contains high percentage of plant food especially

Nitrogen and can be used as alternative to Nitrogenous fertilizers.

The release of Nitrogen is easy, as Azolla contains high protein content.

It increases the organic matter content on the field and thereby improves soil texture, structure and water holding capacity.

There is no leaching loss. It release plant nutrient slowly like slow releasing fertilizer.

It is less costly and sometimes it can be grown without incurring any cost.

Weed infestation is less when Azolla is grown as dual crop.12/11/2013 14BIOFERTILIZERS

VAM enhances resistance to root disease and improve hardness of transplant stock.

VAM helps in wasteland reclamation by providing extended arm to plant root

The azotobactor bacteria can fix 20-30 kg of Nitrogen per hectare per year.

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Biofertilizers increase the yield of the crop by supplying Nitrogen in the soil.

Biofertilizers increase the supply of Nitrogen to succeeding crops

Biofertilizers improve the fertility and health of soil by supplying organic matter.

Biofertilizers supply enzyme, hormone and vitamin in addition of Nitrogen. As a result, vegetative growth of the plants becomes good and plant bear flower quickly.

The fixed Phosphorus becomes soluble by the application of phosphobacterin and the demand of Phosphorus of the plants meets accordingly.12/11/2013 16BIOFERTILIZERS

The environment cannot be polluted in any way due to the use of bio-fertilizers

Soil testing is essential due to use of fertilizers. But it is not essential to test the soil due to use of bio-fertilizer.

Biofertilizers the crops primary from seed, soil and water borne diseases.

Biofertilizers supply Nitrogen and make the fixed Phosphorus in soluble form and curtail the amount of fertilizer. In this way, biofertilizer saves the cost of cultivation.

Biofertilizers increase the yield of crops up to 10-30 per cent.

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Though the biofertilizer technology is a low cost, eco-friendly technology, several constraints limit the application or implementation of the technology

The constraints may be:1. environmental, 2. technological,3. infrastructural,4. financial,5. human resources, 6. quality and marketing, etc.

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Soil harbours many beneficial microorganisms that help in nitrogen fixation, phosphate and other nutrient transformation in the soil for better crop growth.

The term Biofertilizer refers to preparation containing live microorganisms, which helps in enhancing the soil fertility either by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, solubilization / mineralization of phosphorus and potassium or decomposing organic wastes or by producing plant growth substances.

The advantages of biofertilizers are many fold, sustain soil health, supplement chemical fertilizers, increase grain yield, secrete plant growth substances, solubilize and mobilize nutrients etc.

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http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_biofertilizertechnology.html accessed on 10th , October, 2013.

Das, P.C.(2008), Manures and Fertilizers 3rd ed., Kalyani Publishers Ludhiana, 80-86p

 Reddy, S.R.(2011) Principles of Agronomy Kalyani Publishers Ludhiana, 656-658p

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