The document discusses biocontrol and biostimulants for pest management. It notes the problems with excessive pesticide use including impacts to human health, development of pest resistance, and resurgence of pest populations. It then discusses biological control using beneficial organisms to suppress pests and pathogens. Specific examples of using Trichoderma and Pseudomonas species to control various rice, potato, and muskmelon diseases are provided. The document also discusses the use of insect growth regulators, plant-derived biorational pesticides, pheromones, and new technologies like SPLAT for applying pheromones to manipulate insect behavior for pest management.

1. Biocontrol & Biostimulants
By
Dr. Nikhil Ambish Mehta
HDO/ Research Officer, PSFC, Mohali
M-7508018998, Email- dr.nikhil.hdo@gmail.com

2. Pesticide Management Issues
• It is a serious problem,
because the released
minor species may cause
more crop loss than the
original target species.
• Persistent exposure
impacts human
health leading to
various diseases
• When a resistance to a
chemical is recognized a
new molecule is applied
until it, too, does not work.
This scenario is referred to
as the “pesticide treadmill”
• Pest population, after
having been suppressed,
rebounds to attain a higher
population density than was
before suppression occurred
leading to outbreaks &
destruction of natural
enemies
Resurgence Resistance
Replacement
Inherent
Toxicity
Source: http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/13953/1/Unit-
12.pdf

3. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Biological control: Purposeful utilization of introduced or resident living
organisms, other than disease resistant host plants, to suppress the activities and
populations of one or more plant pathogens/pest. (Pal and Gardener 2006)
Baker and Cook’s (1974) : “Biological control is the reduction of inoculum or
disease producing activity of a pathogen accomplished by or through one or more
organisms other than man.”
Biological Control Agent (BCA): Organism that suppresses the pest or pathogen.

4. What are Bio-Pesticides ?
 The term biopesticides defines compounds that are
used to manage agricultural pests by means of
specific biological effects rather than as broader
chemical pesticides.
 It refers to products containing biocontrol agents –
i.e., natural organisms or substances derived from
natural materials (such as animals, plants, bacteria, or
certain minerals), including their genes or
metabolites, for controlling pests
(Sporleder and Lacy, 2013)

5. How bio-pesticide works ?
Direct competition/exclusion
Antibiosis
Predation and parasitism
Induced resistance to the host
plant
Plant growth promotion
(Singh, 2013)

6. Classification of biopesticides according
to product
Fungal
biopesticides
Bacterial
biopesticides
Viral
biopesticides
Others e.g.
nematodes
(Mishra et al 2015)

8. Need for Bio pesticides
The constant and regular use of chemicals has resulted
in detrimental effects to the environment and human
health
Increase risk of residue toxicity, prices and pathogen
resistances
Demand of organic products
(Chaudhary et al 2014)

9. Recommendation of biocontrol
of different diseases
• Foot Rot of Basmati Rice
 Use disease free seed
 Smear the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma harzianum @ 15 g/kg of
seed immediately before sowing
 seedling root dip for 6 hrs with T. harzianum @ 15 g/litre of water before
transplanting.
 Rogue out and destroy infected seedlings from nursery and field
• Pea Wilt
 Treating the seed with 15g of Talc based formulation of Pseudomonas
fluorescens per kg of seed before sowing
• Black Scurf of Potato
 Dip potato seed tuber in 10g wet Trichoderma formulation and 20g mollasses
per liter water for 10 minutes. Keep treated seed in shade for 24 hours before
sowing.

10. Foot rot of Basmati rice
•
•
Trichoderma treated No treatment

11. Mass production of Trichoderma for control of Foot rot
of Basmat rice
-In the Kharif 2015-16 and
2016-17, 16.25 quintals of
Trichoderma harzianum (a
local strain) based
biopesticide worth of 2.43
Lakhs was mass produced
for the control of Basmati
rice
-MOU with IPL-New Delhi Bioformulation of T. harzianum

12. Pea Wilt and its Management
Control ( No seed treatment )
Plant stand after seed treatment with Pseuedomonas  Treating the seed with Bavistin
@ 1g or Captan @ 2g or Talc
based formulation of
Pseudomonas fluorescens
@15g+1g Captan per kg of
seed before sowing.

13. Black Scurf of Potato & Management
Trichoderma treated Untreated
• Dip potato seed tuber
in 10g wet
Trichoderma
formulation and 20g
mollasses per liter
water for 10 minutes.
Keep treated seed in
shade for 24 hours
before sowing.

14. Sheath Blight of Rice
Morphological and molecular
characterization showed that Rhizoctonia
solani is more prevalent than R.oryzae
 Trichoderma asperllum T19 and
Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf 14 were the
most effective strains
Most of the isolates of Trichoderma and
Pseudomonas fluorescens were producing
cell wall degrading enzymes like chitinases
and glucanases

15.  Under field conditions Trichoderma T19 isolate as seed +
soil + spray treatment showed maximum reduction of
disease incidence and disease severity (67.49 % and
82.92 % respectively). It also acted as plant growth
promoter and increased the number of tillers/hill (12.20)
and yield of the crop (71.3 q/ha).
 Molecular identification of Trichoderma T19, showed
100 per cent similarity with T. asperellum.
 Endochitinase gene from Trichoderma asperellum T19
strain was cloned and sequenced
 In nutshell Trichoderma asperellum T19 strain as seed +
soil + foliar spray can be used to control sheath blight of
rice under field conditions

16. Phytophthora Foot rot
of Kinnow
-Phytophthora Foot rot of Kinnow
(Phytophthora parasitica -T. viride
found in controlling this disease
- T. viride (Tv1) was the best as far
as percent seed germination
(86 percent) and percent post
emergence mortality (60 percent
decrease)
-The same isolate (T. viride ) when
applied as talc based formulation
(75 to 100g in 2.5 Kg of FYM/Plant)
around the soil of the Kinnow plant
resulted in increase in the feeder
root density ( upto 13 percent) and
fruit yield

17. Biocontrol of damping off in Chilli and
Cauliflower
 In Chilli and Cauliflower maximum inhibition
of damping off disease (80 percent) and
maximum yield (24.63 q/acre) was by the use
of Trichoderma harzianum (Th5) when applied
as seed and soil treatment
 Th5 also acted as plant growth promoters in
chilli and cauliflower increasing root and shoot
length which helped in achieving better yields
in both the crops
 Bioagent was able to compete well in
rhizoshere and remained potent with
considerable population (cfu/gm) throughout
the nursery period (45 days)

18. Muskmelon wilt
• -Native strain of Trichoderma
harzianum from wheat fields was able to
control the disease
•
-Seedling germination was the highest in
case of T. harzianum isolate Th3 (87.5%)
followed by Th11 (85.4%)
.
--The per cent decrease in wilt incidence
was the highest in T. harzianum isolate
Th3 (68.0 %) and Th11 (66.6 %).

19. MASS CULTURING
 Rice leaves proved best in mass culturing of Trichoderma
harzianum
 Talc based formulation of the Trichoderma harzianum,
Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride can be
stored at ambient temperature with shelf life up to 7
months ( 210 days) and at 0 0C can be potent even after
one year ( 360days)
 Th5 isolate of Trichoderma harzianum can be effectively
used for the management of damping off in chilli and
cauliflower nursery

20. AM Fungi : Mycorrhizal colonization
Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
on chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium
oxysporum f.sp. Ciceris.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF),
exhibited maximum colonization, spore
populations and help in absorbtion of
Posphorus fertilizer.
Thus the AM fungi act as biofertilzer as
well as biocontrol agents.

21. Benefits of microbials
• Microbes are intimate partners of plants
• Key role in nutrient mobilization – pest
management and soil health management.
• Used for increasing the efficiency of chemical
fertilizers and promote plant growth.
• Used with chemical pesticides after
compatibility check thereby improving their
market shelf-life.
• Microbials fit into the demands of conventional
as well as organic farming.

22. Biorational Control
The utilization of chemicals that affect insect
behaviour, growth and / or reproduction for
the suppression of insect population is
referred to as Biorational control
Biorational insecticides
•Natural or synthetic
•Effectively control insect pests
•Low toxicity to non-target and environment

23. BIORATIONALS
Insect Growth
Regulators
(IGRs)
Plant-derived
biorationals
Semiochemicals
(Pheromones &
Allelochemicals)

24. Insect growth regulators - Third
generation of pesticides
• Insect growth regulators (IGRs)
are insecticides that mimic hormones in young
insects.
• They disrupt insects growth and reproduction
• They can prevent reproduction, egg-hatch, and
molting from one stage to the next.
• IGRs are generally low in toxicity to humans.

25. Insect Growth Regulators
Moulting Hormone Analogues
(Tebufenozide, Methoxyfenozide, Halofenozide)
Juvenile Hormone Analogues
(Methoprene, Hydroprene, Fenoxycarb, Pyriproxyfen)
Chitin Synthesis Inhibitors
(Diflubenzuron, Novaluron, Buprofezin)

26. PAU Recommendations of IGRs
IGR Crop Insect pest Dose per acre
Pyriproxyfen
(Lano10EC)
Cotton Whitefly (Nymphs) 500 ml
Buprofezin
(Applaud 25 SC)
Cotton Mealy bug 500 ml
Buprofezin
(Applaud 25 SC)
Cotton Whitefly 400 ml
Novaluron
(Rimon 10 EC)
Cotton Tobacco caterpillar 150 ml
These are safe to natural
enemies

27. CHARACTERISTICS OF MAJOR PLANT-DERIVED
BIORATIONALS
Botanical
insecticide
Source plant (s) Uses
Pyrethrins Flowers of pyrethrum daisy,
Tanacetum (Chrysanthemum)
cinerariaefolium
On pests and humans to
control fleas, ticks , lice
Breaks down rapidly
Rotenone Roots of Derris, Lonchocarpus,
Tephrosia, other tropical
legumes
In gardens& orchards
against many insects
especially beetles. Persists
effectively for 4-5 days
Sabadilla Seeds of tropical lily
Schoenocaulon officinale and
European Veratrum album
In vegetables and fruits
against bugs and citrus
thrips. Breaks down rapidly
Ryania Woody stems of Ryania
speciosa
In fields &fruit crops
against caterpilllars &
thrips. For garden use

28. Botanical
insecticide
Source plant (s) Uses
Nicotine Tobacco, Nicotiana sp.,
Duboisia, Anabasis, Asclepis,
Equistem, Lycopodium
Mostly in greenhouses & gardens.
Nicotine fumigations target aphids,
thrips & mites
Neem Leaves, bark, seeds of neem
(Azadirachta indica) &
chinaberry (Melia azedarach )
On many crops & landscape plants
especially against soft bodied&
secondary pests. Very short
persistence on treated plants
Limonene/
Linalool
Citrus oils Mostly in pet shampoos, dip &
sprays to kill fleas & ticks. Very
short persistence on treated plants

29. PAU Recommendations of Plant-derived Biorationals
IGR Crop Insect pest Dose per acre
Achook (azadirachtin
0.15%)
Basmati rice Stem borers 1000 ml
Nimbecidine or Achook
(azadirachtin 0.15%)
Cotton Whitefly 1000 ml
Homemade neem
extract*
Cotton Whitefly 1200 ml
Pigeonpea Pod Sucking Bug 1250 ml
Neem fruit aqueous
extract**
Capsicum Mite 5 %
*Method of preparation: Boil 4.0 kg terminal parts of the shoots of neem trees
including leaves, green branches and fruits in 10 liters of water for 30 minutes.
Then filter this material through muslin cloth and use the filterate for spraying at
the recommended dose.
*Method of preparation: Take fresh neem fruits, dry in shade and make a course
powder by grinding them. Mix 5 kg of fruit extract powder in 100 litres of water
for 12hours.

30. SPLAT
(Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology)
A New Pheromone
Dispensing Technology

31. SEMIOCHEMICALS
• The chemicals that trigger various
behavioral responses and mediate the
interactions between the organisms are
called “Semiochemicals”.
“semeon” = a mark or signal
31
Pheromones
 A substance that is
secreted by an organism
to the outside and causes
a specific reaction in
receiving organism of the
same species.
(sex, alarm, aggregation
etc.)
Allelochemicals
• A chemical substance
that mediates
interspecific interactions.

32. – Detecting and monitoring insect pest populations
– Mass trapping
– Mating Disruption
32
APPLICATION OF
PHEROMONES IN IPM
Pheromones of nearly 1000 species of insect pests have
been identified, synthesized and formulated

33. Three type of pheromone traps viz., sticky, liquid and
dry traps are used in pest management programmes.
The most widely used traps are delta traps for
sucking pests in cotton and dry traps for
lepidopterous pests in many crops.
In India the pheromones have been used in about 15
species of insects.
Pheromones Production and Use

34. Crop Target pest
Cotton, pulses, tomato American bollworm
Cotton Pink bollworm
Cotton, okra Spotted bollworm
Cotton, okra Spiny bollworm
Cotton, tobacco, groundnut Tobacco caterpillar
Brinjal Shoot and fruit borer
Potato Potato tuber moth
Paddy Yellow stem borer
Coconut Red palm weevil
Oilseeds and others Hairy caterpillars
34
LIST OF PHEROMONES FOR CROP PESTS
UTILIZED ON COMMERCIAL SCALE

35. How to use the PAU fruit fly traps?
Fix @16 traps/acre at a height of 1-1.5 metres
Plum Peach Mango Pear Guava Kinnow
Recharge after 30 days when catch is reduced
Second week of
April
Third week of
May
First week of
July
First week of
May
First week of
June
Second week of
August

36. PAU FRUIT FLY TRAP (VEGETABLES)
Bitter gourd Sponge gourd
3rd-4th week of March
4th week of June for late season crop
Start using traps as flowering
starts
Number: 16 traps/acre
Cue-lure Based

37. Manipulation of Insect Behavior with SPLAT
 Mating disruption - interfers with mate finding and reproduction,
recognized as an environmentally friendly method for the
management of pest insects
 Artificial introduction of such substances into a field
environment often allows the grower to elicit a specific response
from a specific insect pest, leaving desirable non-target
organisms, like natural enemies and pollinators, often unaffected
 The majority of SPLAT-based pest control products have
targeted lepidopteran (e.g., SPLAT OFM, for oriental fruit moth,
Grapholita molesta; SPLAT GM for gypsy moth, Lymantria
dispar; SPLAT EC, for carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae))

38. SPLAT vs. Traditional Pheromone Dispensers
 SPLAT increases productivity by mechanizing the
application of pheromone dispensing points
 Easy Application for Small-scale & Large-scale Operations
 Rain Fast Formulation: Once cured, SPLAT will not wash
off of vegetation
 SPLAT may provide season-long protection in managing
pest populations up to a six month duration
 SPLAT can be mixed with a variety of feeding stimulants or
attractants including liquids, solids and oils to enhance
attraction or stimulate feed

39. TERMITE TRAP
Maize cobs get
converted into soil
material by termites
Termites workers
feeding in empty
maize cobs
Termite Trap filled
with maize cobs
without grains
How to manage??

40. Preparation and installation of Termite Traps in the
orchards
• Earthen pots (13 inches diameter) with 24 holes (16 on top below neck + 8 all
over)
• Fill with maize cobs without grains
• 14 traps/acre buried 1.5-2.0 ft deep with neck outside soil surface
• Timing – First week of April and first week of September
• Termites get attracted within 3 days
Killing trapped termites
After about 20 days of installing the trap, dip the earthen pots with lakhs
of termites trapped inside into water having few drops of diesel

41. Benefits of Termite Trap
Eco-friendly and Cheaper
No pesticide residue in soil, fruits, plants, environment
No repeated applications as in insecticides
Mass trapping of termites
Thousands to lakhs of termites in single trap
Easily fit in IPM programmes
Traps can be used again and again

42. Advantages of Biorational Approaches
• Most of these chemicals are safe to man and domestic
animals
• These chemicals do not persist or accumulate in the
environment
• Many of these compounds are species specific and
have no adverse effect on natural enemies and
pollinators
• These are active at very low concentrations

43. Disadvantages of Biorational Approaches
• Each of these compounds is effective against single
pest or closely related group of pests, so market
potential is limited
• Do not provide immediate control of pests
• Many compounds are photodegradable, therefore
rapidly loose their efficacy
• These chemicals have to be used on an area wide basis
43
These problems are not insurmountable and could be solved by
undertaking further research. The biorational products are
becoming more reliable and look set for a promising future in IPM
programmes

44. BIOSTIMULANT
• The primary functions of the biostimulant
products should be other than pesticide
and nutrient sources. Heavy metal and
other contaminant if any may be within
the prescribed limit given under clause 20
C.

45. DEFINITION OF BIOSTIMULANT
USA Europe INDIA
A plant bio stimulant is a
substance (or) substances
and/or microorganism
whose functions when
applied to seeds, plant (or)
the rhizosphere is to
stimulate natural
processes to enhance /
benefit nutrient uptake,
nutrient efficiency,
tolerance to abiotic stress,
crop quality and/or yield.
Plant bio stimulants contain
substance and/ or
microorganism whose
function when applied to
plants (or) the rhizosphere is
to stimulate natural
processes to enhance
/benefit nutrient uptake,
nutrient efficiency, tolerance
to abiotic stress and crop
quality.
Bio stimulants have no direct
action against pests,
therefore do not fall with in
the regulatory framework of
pesticide.
Bio stimulants mean
compounds, substances
and products including
microorganisms whose
functions when applied to
plant/seeds/rhizosphere is
to regulate and enhance a
crops physiological
processes, independent of
the product nutrient
contents to improve input
use efficiency, growth, yield,
quality and/or stress
tolerance. The bio stimulate
may include products of
plants animal (or) microbial
origin (or) mines-rock
source.
45

46. Landscape of Biostimulant/Biofertilizer Products
Acids Microbes Extracts  Others
 Humic
substances
 Humins
 Fulvic acid
 B Vitamins
 Other
organic acids
 Amino acid
 Fatty
acid/Lipids
Peptides
 Inorganic
salts
 PGPR’S
 Mycorrhiza,
Trichoderma
 Other beneficial
fungi,
 Cytokine,
 Rhizobium;
 Phytohormones
 Complex
/Commodities/
Consortia,
 Cell free
microbial
products
 Seaweed/Kelp
Carboxyls
 Laminarin,
 Alginates
 Other
polysaccharides,
 Polyphenols,
 Allelochemical,
 Antioxident,
 Anti-
transpirants,
 Phytohormones
 Long chain fatty
acids.
 Inorganic
salts, Protein,
 Amino acids,
 Protein
hydrolysate
 Nitrogenous
compounds
 Enzymatic
extracts,
 Beneficial
Elements (Si,
Na, Co etc.)
 Phosphites,
 Betaine,
 Polyamine.
46

47. Source : Global Industry Analysis, Inc., USA.
47

48. BENEFITS OF PLANT BIOSTIMULANTS
48

49. OPPORTUNITIES WITH SEAWEED EXTRACTS
 Marine plants attached to sea bottom or found detached
or floating
 Grows in abundance along the North Atlantic Coastline.
 Exposed to extreme weather, capable of thriving in -25°C
in winter to +40°C in summer. Hence adapted to live in
the intertidal zone by evolving its biochemical compounds
to overcome severe abiotic stress.
Inorganic
N,P,K, Ca,Fe,
Mn, Zn, Na,
Organic
Polysaccharides.- Alginates
Phenolics, Betaines- Osmolites, Proteins, Vitamins
Phytohormones - cytokinins, auxins, and abscisic
acid (ABA)
49

50. : BENEFITS :
5
0

51. KEY MECHANISM BY SEA WEED EXTRACTS
Chemical composition of extract is largely depends on method
extraction – therefore activity of same weed raw material obtained by
different extraction process may be considerably differ.
51

52. 52
Composition of Ascophyllum nodosum alkaline extract
Sr. No. Item Value
1 pH ~10
2 Carbohydrates ~50%
3 Amino Acids ~5%
4 Nitrogen 0.8 to 1.5%
5 Phosphorus 0.5 to 1.0%
6 Potassium 14 to 18%
7 Calcium 0.3 to 0.6%
8 Sodium 3.0 to 5.0%
9 Micronutrients 1 to 250 ppm (Fe)

53. Biostimulants – Regulation
Bio stimulants are a new class of product for which legal definitions do not
exist and regulatory pathway are unclear.
Fertilizers Biostimulants Pesticides
 Provide macro
and micro
nutrients.
 Improve nutrient use
efficiency,
 Abiotic stress management,
 Increase crop quality/vigour.
 Preventive (or)
Curative effects
 Specific targets
 PGR.
 Well known
regulatory
pathways
 Low to medium
level of
requirements.
 Regulatory pathway are
unclear/under construction.
 Legal definitions are not
established.
 Well known
regulatory
pathways
 High level of data
requirements.
53

54.  Elementary aspects and importance of Biostimulant
Regulation
 Clear definition for biostimulant recognized by regulatory agency
(Awareness creation to the farmer).
 Clear, consistent and predictable process for market entry.
 Clarity on acceptable claims for bio stimulants.
 Single label in all states.
 Clear approach for registration of product that may have dual use.
 Global harmonization of standard and practices (to the extent
possible).
 Support industry practices that enhance market creditability.
 Distinct biostimulant category-Recognized by state and Central
government.
 Consistent and appropriate bio stimulant label claims.
 Science base risk assessment.
 Adaptable to innovation and future technologies.
54

55. : BIOFERTILIZER :
What is Bio fertilizer?
 A bio fertilizer is a substance which contains living
microorganisms, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil,
colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and
promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of
primary nutrients to the host plant.
 Bio fertilizer add nutrient through the natural process of
nitrogen, solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth
through the synthesis of growth-promoting substances.
55

56. TYPES OF BIOFERTILIZERS
 Bacterial
 Fungal
 Algal
 Aquatic fern
 Earthworms
Earthworm
VA
M
56

57. Bacterial Biofertilizer :
 Symbiotic Nitrogen fixer: Rhizobium spp.
 Free Living a) Aerobic : Azotobacter spp, Beijerinckia spp.
b) Anaerobic :Clostridium
 Associative symbiotic : Azospirillum spp.
Phosphorus Solubilising Biofertilizer:
 Mycorrhiza, Pseudomonas spp, Aspergillus spp, Bacillus spp
Algal Bio fertilizer:
 Blue green algae (BGA) in association with Azolla pinnata.
 Anabaena, Nostoc, Ocillatoria spp.
Fungal Bio fertilizer
 Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM), Penicillium spp.
Actinomycetes:
 Streptomycesspp.
Earthworms
 Eisenia fetida, Eisenia andrei
TYPES OF BIOFERTILIZERS
5

58. Importance of Bio fertilizer
 Increasing Harvest Yields
• Average increase crop yields by 20 to 30 percent.
• Azotobactor improves seed germination and plant growth in cereal and
pulse crops. Azotobactor presents in the alkaline and neutral soils. Apart
from its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soils, it can also synthesize
growth promoting substances such as auxins and gibberellins.
• VAM is an endotrophic (live inside) mycorrhiza which enhances feeding
areas of the plant root by spreading hyphae around the roots.
• Azolla biomass gets doubled within 5-7 days by vegetative methods. It is
a good manure for flooded rice by fixing 40-80 kg nitrogen/ha/year
and tolerant to heat and cold weather condition.
 Improving Soil structure:
• Use of microbial bio fertilizers improves the soil structure by influencing
the aggregation of the soil particles.
• Decompose plant residues and stabilize C:N ratio of soil.
• Improve texture, structure and water holding capacity of soil.
58

59.  Improving Sustainability :
• Bio fertilizers are eco-friendly, non-pollutants and safe to handle.
• Mycorrhiza reduces sensitivity of crop towards high level of salts and
heavy metals.
 Better water relation :
o An Arbuscular Mycorrhiza colonization induces drought tolerance in
plants.
• The VAM hyphae also help in retaining moisture around the root zone of
plants.
• Improving leaf water and turgor potential.
 Lowering Production Costs :
• The symbiotic bacteria make an association with crop plants through
forming root nodules in their roots. Rhizobium can fix 50-300 kg of
nodules/ha.
• The free living bacteria do not form any association but live freely and fix
atmospheric nitrogen. Considerable quantity of nitrogen fertilizer up to
25-30 % can be saved by the use of Azospirillum inoculant.
59

60. Precautions
1. Store bio fertilizer packets in cool and dry place away from direct
sunlight and heat.
2. Use right combination of bio fertilizers and Don’t mix with
chemicals.
3. Rhizobium is crop specific, so use in specified crop only.
4. Must be used before their expiry date, only on the specified
crop, by the recommended method.
5. Bio fertilizers require special care for long-term storage
because they are alive.
6. Sometime bio fertilizers lose their effectiveness if the soil is
too hot or dry.
60

61. Bio-Fertilizers/ Bio-Products/ Bio-Pesticides/ Biostimulants