Types, classification , importance of biofertilizer in india

1. Subject- Bio pesticides & Bio
fertilizers
B.Sc. {hons.] Agriculture 5th
Topic- Introduction of Biofertilizer
College: DIBNS Manduwala, Dehradun
University: HNB Garhwal University
Uttarakhand
By
Mr. Pankaj Budakoti
Assist.Prof.

2. Introduction of Biofertilizer
• Biofertilizers - Biofertilizers means the product containing carrier based
(solid or liquid) living microorganisms which are agriculturally useful in
terms of nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization or nutrient
mobilization, to increase the productivity of the soil and/or crop. According
to {Biofertilizers and Organic Fertilizers in Fertilizer (Control) Order,
1985 india ]
• General Rules Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and
Cooperation, Government of India, New Delhi, vide their order Dated 24th
March, 2006 included bio fertilizers and organic fertilizers under section 3
of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), in Fertilizer (Control)
Order, 1985.

3. • Bio fertilizers are defined as preparations containing living
cells or latent cells of efficient strains of microorganisms that
help crop plants uptake of nutrients by their interactions in the
rhizosphere when applied through seed or soil. They accelerate
certain microbial processes in the soil which augment the
extent of availability of nutrients in a form easily assimilated
by plants.
• Bio fertilizers is the product that containing living cells of
effective strains of different microorganisms which have an
ability to mobilize nutritionally important elements from non-
available to available form through biological process

4. HISTORY OF BIOFERTILIZER
PRODUCTION
• Theophrastus (372-287 BC) suggested the mixing of different soils as a means
of remedying defects and adding heart to the soil . From experience farmers
knew that when they mixed soil, taken from previous legume crop with soil in
which non-legumes were to be grown, yields often improved ,
• 19th century, the practice of mixing “naturally inoculated” soil with seeds
became a recommended method of legume inoculation in the U.S.A. A decade
later, the first patent (“Nitragin”) was registered for plant inoculation with
Rhizobium sp
• Boussingault and Hellreigel (1886) – shown biological nitrogen fixation in
legume crops.
• Nobbe and Hiltner (1895) – Produced for the first time a labortary culture of
Rhizobia under the name “Nitragin”
• Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) are the latest introduction in the list
of biofertilizers which mobilize phosphorus. Some Important Research,
Production and Promotion of Biofertilizers in India
• N. V. Joshi (1920) – first study on legume Rhizobium Symbiosis.
• M. R. Madhok (1934) – documented production of Rhizobium Inoculant.

5. • In 1956, first commercial production of biofertilizer.
• Sen and Pal (1957) – Study on solubilization of phosphorus by microorganisms.
• In 1964, Spurt in demand of Biofertilizer for Soyabean crops in Madhya Pradesh
• . V. Ishwaran (1970) – Shown use of charcoal, lignite and FYM as alternative
carrier to peat soil.
• Azospirillum which was discovered by Brazilian scientist, J. Dobereiner. In the late
1970s Azospirillum was found to enhance non-legume plant growth
• In 1977, Use of ISI mark for Rhizobium Production.
• In 1983, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India setting up of National
Project on Development and Use of Bio fertilizers.
• In 1986, At IARI, New Delhi setting up of National Facility for Blue Green
Algae by Department of Biotechnology.
• In 1990, At IARI, New Delhi setting up of National Facility for Collection of
Rhizobium germplasm by Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology

6. • Accordingly, the Bureau of Indian Standards has sprung into action
and specific standards for Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and
phosphate solublizing bacterial inoculants have been brought out.
• Some of the nitrogen fixers colonize the root zones and fix nitrogen
in loose association with plants A very important bacterium of this
category is.
• In recent years, various other rhizobacteria such as Aeromonas
veronii, Azotobacter sp., Azoarus sp, Cyanobacteria (predominantly
of the genera Anabaena and Nostoc) Alcaligenas, Burkholderia,
Comamonas acidororans, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Flavobacterium,
rhizobia (including the Allorhizobium, Azorhizobium,
Bradyrhizoblum, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium)
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Herbaspirillum seroepdicae,
Serratia, Variovorax paradoxus and Xanthomonas maltophilia have
been identified for their use either as biofertilizers or biological
control agents (Bioinoculants).

7. • Rhizosphere also known as the microbe storehouse is the soil zone
surrounding the plant roots where the biological and chemical features
of the soil are influenced by the roots term by H.hiltner

8. The main sources of biofertilizers are bacteria,
fungi and cyanobacteria (blue green algae)
Most biofertilizers belong to one of the
following categories: nitrogen fixing, phosphate
solubilizing and mobilizing, and plant growth
promoting rhizobacteria

9. Benefits of Biofertilizers
• It helps in maintaining environmental health by reducing the level of
pollution.
• Reduces human & animal hazards by reducing the level of residue in the
product.
• Increases the agricultural products and makes it sustainable
• Ensures the optimum utilization of natural resources
• Reduces the risk of crop failure.
• Improves the physical and chemical properties of soil
• Biofertilizers are cost-effective when compared to synthetic fertilizers
• Using biofertilizers can increase crop yield b

10. • Cost effective.
• Suppliment to fertilizers.
• Eco-friendly (Friendly with nature).
• Reduces the costs towards fertilizers use, especially regarding nitrogen and
phosphorus.
• Increase crop yield by 20-30%.
• Replace chemical nitrogen and phosphorus by 25%.
• Stimulate plant growth.
• Activate the soil biologically.
• Restore natural soil fertility.
• Provide protection against drought and some soil borne diseases.

11. • Bio fertilizers fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and root nodules of
legume crops and make it available to the plant.
• They solubilise the insoluble forms of phosphates like tricalcium, iron and
aluminium phosphates into available forms.
• They scavenge phosphate from soil layers.
• They produce hormones and anti metabolites which promote root growth.
• They decompose organic matter and help in mineralization in soil.
• When applied to seed or soil, bio fertilizers increase the availability of
nutrients and improve the yield by 10 to 25% without adversely affecting
the soil and environment.

12. Constraints in Biofertilizer Technology
• Technological constraints like unavailability of good quality carrier
material and lack of qualified technical personnel in production units.
• Infrastructural constraints like lack of essential equipment's, power supply,
etc.
• Financial constraints like non-availability of sufficient funds and problems in
getting bank loans.
• Environmental constraints like seasonal demand for biofertilizers,
simultaneous cropping operations and short span of sowing/planting in a
particular locality, etc.
• Human resources and quality constraints like lack of technically qualified
staff in the production units, lack of suitable training on the production
techniques

13. • Unawareness on the benefits of the technology due to
problem in adoption of the technology by the farmers
due to different methods of inoculation, no visual
difference in the crop growth immediately as that of
inorganic fertilizers.
• Marketing constraints like non availability of right
inoculant at the right place at the right time, lack of retail
outlets or the market network for the producers.
• The different constraints in one way or the other affect
the technique at production, or marketing or usage

14. Classification of bio fertilizers
Bio fertilizer classification based on supplying
nutrient
• N2 fixing Biofertilizers
• P supplying 1-Solubilizing Biofertilizers
2-Mobilizing Biofertilizers
• K- supplying Biofertilizers
• S- supplying biofertilizer
• Micronutrient supplying
• O.M decomposer

15. 1-N2 fixing Bio fertilizers
An atmosphere around us contains nearly 78% nitrogen that is in free form and
is not utilized by the plants. Plants take up nitrogen in the form of ammonia or
nitrate.
Relatively small amount of ammonia is produced by lightning. Some ammonia
also is produced industrially by the Haber-Bosch process, using an iron-based
catalyst, very high pressures and fairly high temperature.
But the major conversion of N2 into ammonia by the action of enzyme
nitrogenase, and thence into proteins, is achieved by microorganisms in the
process called nitrogen fixation (or dinitrogen fixation).

16. 1) Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixer – Rhizobium,
Frankia, Anabaena azola
2) Non-Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixer – Azotobacter,
Acetobacter, Beijerinckia, Cyanobacteria(BGA),
Rhodospirillum, Rhodopseudomonas
3) Associatively Symbiotically Nitrogen Fixer –
Azospirillum, Acetobacter diazotrophicus
Azoarcus

17. • 1) Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixer – Rhizobium, Frankia (Frankia- Trees (e.g
Alder, Casuarina)) , Anabaena azola
 Rhizobium First time, Beijirinck from Holland isolated this bacterium from
nodules of a legume in 1888, Later o;, the bacterium was reported in
Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology under the genus
Rhizobium. The name Rhizobium was established by Frank in 1889
• Symbiosis with many legume crop, as result of which the N of the air is
fixed or convert to ammonium ions that can be utilised by plants these
bacteria survive in the soil as spore and enters the root cells .root nodules
act as site of N fixation. Optimum temp for their growth is 25 to 30 degree
and optimum ph 6 to 7. carbon source is plant, not all spp. Of rhizobium
can symbiotic relationship with legume and form nodule. In the soil such
bacteria population may not be adequate or effective for forming
productive association with crop so that in such case artificially
introduction in the soil by rhizobium culture. there is three type

18. 1. Azorhizobium( at root nodule formation eg.
Sesbania rostrata)
2. Bradyrhizobium ('slow growing rhizobia‘
occur in ground nut, pigeon pea, green, gram
cowpea, soyabean )
3. rhizobium('slow growing rhizobia‘ called
Rhizobium occurs in lentil and pea)

19. Azolla :-
• Azolla is a primitive free floating water fern.
• There are six azolla species and out of these six species, Azolla pinnata
is most common fern in India. - A. pinnata, A. caroliniana, A. rubra, A
filiculoides, A. nilotica, A. mexicana and A. microphylla. A. pinnata is native to
India but now many of these species have been introduced.
• It is grown in a ditches and natural ponds along with other weeds
• The Azolla usually forms green mate over the water which often
becomes reddish due to accumulation of anthocyanin pigment.
• The ability of Azolla to fix N2 is about 1.1 kg N/ha/day. The doubling
time varies between 2 and 10 days for most species and maximum
biomass ranged between 0.8 to 5.2 t dry matter/ha with an average of
2.1 t/ha..
• Anabena a BGA known for Nitrogen fixation is associated with aquatic
weeds.
• Azolla growing in paddy fields upto 25 to 30 kg N/ha and recent
studies indicate that incorporations of azolla also reduces the
requirement potash fertilizer to the tune of 25 to 35 %.

21. Azotobacter :-
Based on morphological and physiological characters genus Azotobacter has
been classified into three types species –
• Azotobacter chracoccum Azotobacter beijrinekii Azotobacter
vinelandii
• Among these species first two are most commonly occurring
species in India. However, A.chrococcum found in acid soils
while A. beijrinekii found in neutral to alkali soils.
• Azotobacter not only provides the nitrogen but produce variety
of growth promoting substances like gibberllins, vitamin B
and antifungal substances.
• Azotobacter has also ability to produce compounds against
pathogen like fusariumand alternaria.

22. • Another important characteristics of Azotobacter associated with crop
improvement is excretion of Ammonia in the rhizosphere in the presence of
root exudates and helps in nutrient uptake by plant
• The results from larger number of experiments conducted in last four
decades have shown positive response to Azotobacter application on a crop
like cereals, millets, vegetables, cotton and sugarcane and increased the
crop yield by 10 to 30%
• which is a rhizoplane bacterium, the other members are largely soil borne and
rhizospheric. The potential of A. chroococcum and A. paspali as a biofertilizer for
various non-legume crops is well documented.
• Azotobacter is an aerobic, Gram negative, rod shaped bacteria occurs
singly, in chains, or in clumps. It does not form endospores but do form
thick-walled cysts

23. • It grows well at an optimum temperature range between 20 and 30°C and at
pH 7.0 - 7.5. They are able to grow on various carbohydrates, alcohols, and
organic acids.
• Azotobacter was first discovered using a culture that was devoid of a
combined nitrogen source. Azotobacter is found on neutral to alkaline soils,
in aquatic environments, in the plant rhizosphere and phyllosphere.
A.chroococcum is the most common species of Azotobacter present in the
soil.
• Azotobacter sp. are known to influence plant growth through their ability to
fix molecular nitrogen; production of growth promoting substances like
IAA, gibberellin or gibberellin-like compounds and vitamins, excretion of
ammonia in the rhizosphere in the presence of root exudates; production of
anti-fungal metabolites and phosphate solubilization.

24. Azospirillum
• Azospirillum an associative microphillic nitrogen fixer commonly
found in association with roots of cereals and grasses.
• High N2 fixation capacity, low energy requirement and abundant
establishment in the roots of cereals and tolerance to the high soil
temperature (30 to 40° C).
• Due to these characteristic of Azospirillum, they are more suitable
under tropical conditions.
• Due to high ability of N2 fixing and beneficial response under saline
condition maintained high nitrogenase activity.
• They have ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and produce
phytoharmones on Azospirillum application observed that there
was increased in yield with wide variation i.e. 10 to 64%.

25. • Most common species is Azospirillum brasilence is used and when applied
with Azotobacter chrococcum production synergistic effect on yield of
maize, sorghum and barley.
• Beijerinck in 1925 reported a nitrogen-fixing bacterium under the name Spirillum
lipoferum. The ability to fix nitrogen by certain spirilla was first recorded by him,
who noticed their presence in enrichment cultures of Azotobacter chroococcum. A
new orientation to the study of this bacterium has come with the observations of
Dobereiner and Day (1976) that Azospirillum could be isolated from the roots of
tropical grass Digitaria decumbens using a semi-solid N2-free sodium malate
enrichment medium.
• Azospirillum species grow well on organic acids such as malate, succinate,
lactate and pyruvate

26. Blue Green Algae (BGA) :-
• It is also called Cyanobacteria.
• BGA are photosynthetic nitrogen fixing organisms passes nitrogen
fixing species cells
• called “Heterocysts”.
• This algae is suitable to rice ecosystem and its abundance in rice
field and is often referred as paddy organisms.
• It uses sunlight as a energy source and water as a source reducing
agent for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.
• Most of the N2 fixing BGA of rice fields are filamentous consisting of
vegetable celles including specialized called heterocysts.
• Heterocysts act as a micronodule for synthesis and N2 fixation BGA also
synthesize and liberate growth promoting substances such as auxin and
amino acids.

27. • The algae that are generally used for field application are
species of Aulosira, Tolypothrix, Scytonema, Nostoc,
Anabaena and Plectonema as a mixture.

28. • Cyanobacteria have ability to carry out both photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.
Besides contributing to the nitrogen economy of the soils these algae have other
beneficial effects.
• Their exceptionally good water holding capacity, their ability to concentrate
nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, fixed carbon and trace elements, their soil
binding capacity and their ability to scavenge sodium from salt affected soils are
additional ecological advantages.
• The presence of BGA in the immediate vicinity of rice seeds can decrease sulphide
and iron injury to the plants.
• Cyanobacteria also produce number of plant growth substances like amino acids,
small proteins and peptides, sugars, complex polysaccharides, vitamins and growth
hormones.
• Standing crops of nitrogen fixing BGA range from 5-20 tons per hectare fresh
weight and contribute approximately 30kg nitrogen per season per hectare of rice
field.
• A bulk of the organic matter produced by algal growth remains in the soil and
becomes available to the next crop as organic enrichment

29. P supplying
• Phosphorus is a major nutrient required for the growth of plant.
There are large reserves of phosphorus in soils but very little amount
is available to the plant. There are microorganisms in soil that can
solubilize the unavailable phosphorus and make it available to plant.
They are called Phosphate solubilizing microorgamisms (PSM).
What is phosphate mobilizer?
• Phosphorus-mobilizing bacteria (PMB) are beneficial bacteria that
effectively mobilize P through solubilization of sorbed P pools
and mineralization of organic P compounds which are otherwise
not readily available to the plant
A group of fungi associates with the roots of higher plants and
mobilize the phosphorus from soil to the plant system
1-Solubilizing Biofertilizers
2-Mobilizing Biofertilizers

30. P supplying
 Solubilizing Biofertilizers :
1. Bacteria Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum,
Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Pseudomonas
striata
2. Fungi Penicilliumsp, Aspergillus awamori
 Mobilizing Biofertilizers
1. Arbuscularmycorrhiza :Glomussp., Gigaspora sp.,
Acaulospora sp., Scutellospora sp. & Sclerocystis sp.
2. Ectomycorrhiza: Laccaria sp., Pisolithus sp., Boletus
sp., Amanita sp
3. Orchid mycorrhiza: Rhizoctonia solani

31. K supplying
• Potash Solubilizers :
Eg. Fraturia aurantia, Bacillus mucilaginosus,
B.circulas, pseudomonas

32. S-supplying
• Sulphur solublizing:
Eg. Thiobacillus thiooxidans, aspergilus

33. Micronutrients solublizing
• Silicate and Zinc solubilizers
Eg. Bacillus sp.

34. Organic Matter Decomposer
• 1) Bacteria – Cellulomonas folia, Bacillus
stearothermophilus.
• 2) Fungi – Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus nigricans,
Trichoderma viride.
• 3) Actinomycetes – Micromonospora vulgaris,
Streptomyces thermofucus.

35. CROSS INOCULATION GROUPS AMONGST
RHIZOBIUM
• There are various cross inoculation groups of
Rhizobium. Each group has specific plant hosts
which are colonized or nodulated by particular
species of Rhizobium. Cross inoculation grouping is
based on ability of Rhizobium species to form nodules
on a particular legume species which are related to
one another.

36. Cross Inoculation
Groups
Rhizobium spp. Host it can nodulate N2 fixation kg/ha
Pea group Rhizobium
leguminosarum
Pea, Lentil 62-132
Clover group R. trifolli Trifolium 130
Alfalfa group R. melioti Melilotus 100-150
Soyabean group R. jopanicum Soyabean 57-105
Cicer group Rhizobium spp. Bengal gram 75-117
Lupini group R. lupine Lupinus 70-90
Cowpea group Rhizobium spp. Mung, Redgram,
Cowpea and
Groundnut
57-105
Bean group R. phaseoli Bean

37. Rhizobium nodules

38. 1

39. 2

40. Algal Biofertilizers Blue green algae
• The agronomic potential of cyanobacterial N2
fixation

43. Phosphobacteria and Mycorrhizae

44. 1

45. 2

46. 3

47. 4

48. 3-Phosphorous Solution Bio Fertiliser
• Phosphorous Solution Bio Fertiliser contains bacteria that are capable of solubilizing
inorganic Phosphorous from insoluble compounds and providing it for plant uptake. These
microorganisms are commonly known as Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria
or Phosphorous dissolving bacteria. Phosphorous Solution Bio Fertiliser reduces the need for
synthetic phosphate fertilizers. Phospho Bacteria- Psuedomonus

49. 4-Rhizobium bacteria
• It is a biofertilizer that contains symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria which is the most
important nitrogen-fixing organism. These organisms have the ability to drive atmospheric
Nitrogen and provide it to plants. It is recommended for crops such as Groundnut, Soybean,
Red-gram, Green-gram, Black-gram, Lentil, Cowpea, Bengal-gram and Fodder legumes, etc.

50. 5-Azospirillum
• It is a biofertilizer that contains Azospirillum bacteria which has the ability to
colonize the plant roots and fixing atmospheric Nitrogen. It synthesizes
phytohormones, in particular, indole-3-acetic acid, and is supposed to increase
abiotic and biotic stress tolerance capacity thereby assisting in plant growth.

51. 6-Zinc Solubilising Bacteria
Zinc is one of the micronutrients essential for several plant development processes,
including growth hormone production and internode elongation. Zinc Solution Bio
Fertilisers (Z.S.B.) contains bacteria that are capable of solubilizing inorganic zinc and
make it bioavailable for plant consumption. It also reduces the need for excessive
synthetic zinc fertilizers in the soil

52. 7-Potassium Mobilizing Bio Fertiliser (KMB)
• Potassium Mobilizing Bio Fertilisers contain bacteria that are capable of
solubilizing inorganic Potassium from insoluble compounds and providing it for
plant uptake. These microorganisms are commonly known as potassium
solubilizing bacteria or potassium dissolving bacteria.

53. Lab-1
Objective : Identification of commercial product of bio fertilizer in
Lab
Aim of Identification :
• To know about bio fertilizer form
• To know about which type of bio fertilizer can be used in different
crop
• To know about manufacture company's of bio fertilizer in India
• To know about Application of bio fertilizers to crops
• To know about bio fertilizer precautions one should take for using
bio fertilizers?

54. List of commonly produced bio-fertilizers in
India
S. n
Name of bio
fertilizer
Crops
suited
Benefits
usually
seen
Rate of
application
Trade
name
Remarks/compa
ny name
1
2
3
4
5

55. Methods of Application of Biofertilizers
• Seed Treatment: 200 g of bio fertilizer is suspended in 300- 400 mL
of water and mixed gently with 10 kg of seeds using an adhesive
like gum acacia, jiggery solution, etc. The seeds are then spread on
a clean sheet/cloth under shade to dry and used immediately for
sowing.
• Seedling Root Dip: This method is used for transplanted crops. For
rice crop, a bed is made in the field and filled with water.
Recommended biofertilizers are mixed in this water and the roots
of seedlings are dipped for 8-10 h and transplanted.
• Soil Treatment: 4 kg each of the recommended biofertilizers is
mixed in 200 kg of compost and kept overnight. This mixture is
incorporated in the soil at the time of sowing or planting.

56. • Limitation of bio fertilizer
• Never mixed with chemical nitrogenous fertilizer
• Never apply with fungicide. Plant ash etc, at same
time.
• Never directly expose to sun light
• Do not keep used solution over night
• Store at room temp., not below 0 °C and over
35°C
•