2. 1 BIOFERTILIZERS :- INTRODUCTION
2 BIOFERTILIZERS :-CLASSIFICATION
3 BIOFERTILIZERS :- METHOD OF APPLICATION
4 SOME BIOFERTILIZERS IN DETAIL
PROS & CONS5
CONTENTS
3. What is Biofertilizer ?
Bio - living and Fertilizer –things that nourished the crops
Biofertilizer is a substance or product which
contain selective strains of microorganisms which can
contribute nutrients to plants through microbial activity.
A product that contains living microorganisms,
which exert direct or indirect beneficial effects on plant
growth and crop yield through nutrients present in the
rhizosphere.
4. Biofertilizers fix atmospheric Nitrogen and make it available
to the plant.
They Solubilize the insoluble forms of Phosphates into
available forms.
They Produce Hormones and Anti metabolites which
promotes plant growth.
They Decompose Organic matter and help in Mineralization
in soil.
When applied to seed or soil, bio-fertilizers improve the yields
by 10 to 40% without adversely affecting the soil and
environment.
6. Emerging multi-nutrient deficiencies
in soils
?
Mo Mo
B B B B
Mn Mn Mn Mn Mn
S S S S S
K K K K K K
Zn Zn Zn Zn Zn Zn
P P P P P P
Fe Fe Fe Fe Fe Fe Fe
N N N N N N N N
Year 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2025
7. Bio-fertilizers offers eco-friendly technology
They improve soil fertility and increase crop yield up to 10-40%.
They improve pH and other properties of soil (Biological, Physical &
Chemical).
They produces growth promoting substances (IAA, amino acids,
vitamins).
It results in reduced cost of fertilization.
13. MAIN ROLES OF BIOFERTILIZERS
Make nutrients available.
Make the root rhizosphere
livelier.
Growth-promoting substances
are produced.
More root proliferation.
Better germination
Make the system more
sustainable.
14. Residual effect.
Improve the quality and
quantity of produce.
Improve the fertilizer use
efficiency.
Higher biotic and abiotic
stress tolerance.
Improve soil health.
16. BGA are photosynthetic, unicellular
Cyanobacteria
They also produce auxin, gibberellic acid and
vitamin B12
Also called paddy organisms.
Fix
atmospheric
nitrogen
Contribute
25- 30 kg N
/ha /seasonBGA
Increase
rice yield by
10-15 %
Secrete
Vitamins &
hormones
17. Fixes 40-60 kg N/ha in rice crop, supplement
nitrogen by 50 % to rice crop
Yield increase upto 25 %
Controls 50 % weeds in rice field.
Azolla pinnata: Important species, thrive 20-30 C
A. microphylla: It is heat tolerant but cold sensitive.
A. filiculoides: It is cold tolerant and heat sensitive.
Azolla fern is “Live Nitrogen Manufacturing Factory”
Azolla can accumulate 30 to 40 kg K2O ha-1 from irrigation water in
the paddy field.
18. RHIZOBIUM
Establish efficient symbiotic association with
pulses, leguminous oil-seed and fodder crops.
Can fix 25-50 kg N/ha.
Also leave sizeable nitrogen in soil which can
meet a part of N requirement of succeeding crop
in rotation.
Increases the yields of crop owing to inoculation
varies from 10 – 70 % over uninoculated control.
Specific to each legumes, so should be used for
recommended leguminous crop only.
19. Rhizobiun meliloti:- for Melilotus
(Sweet Clover), Medicago (Alfalfa),
Trigonella (Fenugreek)
R. leguminosarum:- for Pes, Lentil,
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus sp.)
R. japonicum:- for Soyabean,
Groundnut, Cowpea
R. phaseoli:- for Phaseolus (bean)
20. Contribute
15-20 kg
N / ha
Enhance
Seed
germination
Produce
Antibiotics
Produce
PGPR
Stimulate
soil micro
organisms
Phosphate
solubilization
Yield
increase up
to 50 %
N2
Fixation
Heterotrophic free-living and non-symbiotic N fixing
organism present in neutral and alkaline soils.
produce
antifungal and antibiotics
compounds against
Helminthosporium, fusarium
and Alternaria
21. Associative symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria
Increase mineral & water uptake, root development,
vegetative growth & crop yield.
Produce growth promoting substances like IAA, IBA, GA.
It is used for rice, sorghum, maize, castor, sunflower, wheat,
millets, corn etc.
Benefits:
Increased yield - 14 to 20 %
Fix 20-25 kg N/ ha/season
22. Aerobic nitrogen fixing bacteria which is capable for nitrogen fixing
in roots, stems and leaves of sugar plants.
Associate with sugarcane, sweet potato plants.
Longer Shelf-life (1 to 2 year)
It can fixe 30 kg N/ha/year.
Increase yield by 10-20 t/acre
Increase Sugar content by 10-15 %
It can also solubilize insoluble forms of P
Acetobacter
23. PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING
RHIZOBACTERIA
Enhances plant growth and yield via various
plant growth promoting substances (IAA,
Gibberellic acid, etc. ).
Improves seed germination, seedling growth
and yield of different crops .
Protects the plant roots from the attack by
soil-borne pathogens.
Reduce the harmful effect of heavy metals.
24. PSMOs lower the pH and bring about the
dissolution of bound forms of phosphates.
Produce plant growth promoting substances like
IAA, IBA & GA
This helps in root formation, plant growth and
seed formation.
Increase the yield up to 20%.
Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium,
Micrococcus sp. are example of PSB (Phosphate
Solubilizing Bacteria) and Penicillium, Aspergillus
are example of PSF (Phosphate Solubilizing
Fungus)
Phosphate solubilizing Micro-Organisms
25. Out of added phosphorus fertilizer only 10-20% is available
for the plants.
PSMOs significantly helps in the release of this insoluble
inorganic phosphate and makes it available to the plants.
Addition of these organisms saves almost 50% of phosphorus
fertilizers applied to the fields and optimizes the intake of
phosphorus by the plants.
26. AM Spores
The term Mycorrhiza denotes “fungus roots” .
Symbiotic association between host plants and
certain group of fungi at root system,
Imparts tolerance to drought, transplantation
shock, salinity and plant pathogens.
Increased plant uptake especially P, Ca, Zn, S.
We can save 50% Phosphatic fertilizer without
affecting the yield .
Glomus sp., Gigaspora sp., Laccaria sp., etc.
Phosphate absorbers)
27. Broadcasting soil mixed with
PSMOs
Root dip
fertigation
Application of PSMOs
Seed inoculation
28. K-Solubilizing Bacteria
Zinc solubilizers
Frateuria aurantia are capable of mobilizing mixture of K
into a usable form to the plants
The zinc can be solubilized by microorganisms viz.,
B. subtilis, Thiobacillus thioxidans and Saccharomyces sp.
30. 1. Seed treatment:
• 10-20g of Bio-fertilizers per kg seeds.
• Bio-fertilizer is mixed with water and adhesive
material.
• Dried for half an hour before sowing.
2. Seedling treatment:
• This is mainly done in transplanted crops.
• A slurry of bio-fertilizer is prepared.
• Seedlings are dipped in the slurry for about
15 minutes,
• Then transplanted to main field.
3. Soil application:
• 2 kg of bio-fertilizers are mixed with 40-50 kg
of decomposed FYM.
• Broadcast at the time of sowing/prior to sowing.
METHOD OF APPLICATION OF BIOFERTILIZER
32. (2) seedling dip:
Add 50 ml Biofertilizer in 10 liters. of water
Mix thoroughly
Dip seedlings for 15-30 minutes
Transplant the seedling in field
33. (3) Soil treatment:
2 kg of biofertilizers are mixed
with 40-50 kg of compost or soil
and keep overnight.
(4) Sett treatment:
50 ml of biofertilizers are mixed
in 10 liter of water
Setts are dipped for 30 minute
34. Carrier based
Cheaper
Less investment
Low shelf – life
Temperature sensitive
Contamination prone
Less effective
Liquid based
High cost
Higher investment for
production unit
Longer shelf – life
Temperature tolerant
Contamination free
More effective
35. Liquid Biofertilizers Benefits
Longer shelf-life (12–24 months)
No loss of properties due to storage up to 45º C
(more temperature tolerant)
Greater potential to fight with native population
Better survival on seeds and soil
Very easy to use by the farmer
Traditionally liquid biofertilizers reduces the
chemical fertilisers usage by 15 – 40%.
36. Bio-fertilizer packets need to be stored in cool and dry place.
Keep away from direct sunlight and heat.
Right combinations of bio-fertilizers have to be used.
Some bio-fertilizer are crop specific, it should be use for the
specified crop only.
Other chemicals should not be mixed with the bio-fertilizers.
The packet has to be used before its expiry.
Precaution for using bio-fertilizer
37. PROS OF BIOFERTILIZER
It improves the soil chemical and physical properties.
Replace chemical fertilizers by 20-25%.
Increase crop yield by 20-30%.
B:C ratio of bio-fertilizers is always higher.
Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly.
Cheap and have easy application methods.
38. Stimulate plant growth.
Reduce the pressure on non-renewable nutrient
sources/fertilizer
Biofertilizers can act as a renewable supplement to chemical
fertilizers and organic manures.
Restore natural soil fertility.
Increase germination percentage.
39. Constraints in Bio-fertilizer Technology
Technological constraints
Infrastructural constraints
Financial constraints
Environmental constraints
Awareness on the technology
Marketing constraints
40. Technological constraints
Infrastructural constraints
Financial constraints
Use of improper less efficient strains
Unavailability of good quality carrier material
Short shelf life of inoculant
Crop specific
There is no technology available for using as dry inoculum
Lack of essential equipment
Power supply
Cold storage of inoculants.
Non-availability of sufficient funds
Less return by sale of products in smaller production units.
41. Marketing constraints
Awareness on the technology
Environmental constraints
Seasonal demand for bio fertilizers
Soil characteristics like salinity, acidity, drought, water logging, etc.
Multiplication is a problem for BGA in non-traditional rice growing areas
due to high temperature (34 + 100 )
Azolla cannot withstand desiccation (removal of moisture)and cannot be
used in upland rice.
Unawareness on the benefits of the technology
Problem in the adoption due to different methods of inoculation
No immediate visual difference in the crop growth like that of inorganic
fertilizers.
Non-availability of quality specifications and quick quality control methods
Non availability of right inoculant at the right place in right time
Lack of retain outlets or the market network for the producers due to short
shelf life
42. FUTURE NEEDS
It is necessary to develop strains suitable for different crops
in different agro climatic conditions to fully harness the benefit
from the biofertilizers.
Poor quality of inoculants is a serious constraint for large scale
use. Hence, there is need to put greater effort in this direction
to achieve better quality of inoculants
The effect of biofertilizers on crop growth and yield is not as
striking as that of chemical fertilizers. However on long term
sustainability basis, biofertilizers has an important role to
play.
43. CONCLUSION
Bio-fertilizers being essential components of nutrient management can play
pivotal role in maintaining soil fertility but they cannot totally replace chemical
fertilizers . The changing scenario of agricultural practices and environmental
hazards associated with chemical fertilizers demand a more significant role of
biofertilizers in coming years.
From the foregoing discussion it can be concluded that biofertilizers
Significantly reduce the chemical fertilizer requirements (especially N
and P)
Improve soil fertility and productivities
Ensure food and nutritional security