An Introduction to Biofertilizers prepared by students of Punjab Agricultural University. Image result for biofertilizersbyjus.com Biofertilizers are the substance that contains microorganism's living or latent cells. Biofertilizers increase the nutrients of host plants when applied to their seeds, plant surface or soil by colonizing the rhizosphere of the plant. Biofertilizers are more cost-effective as compared to chemical fertilizers. References: Handbook of Biofertilizers Photo credentials belong to the respective owners .

1. Biofertilizer
s
Presented by :-
Sandeep Kaur: GL-2014-A-50-BVI
Smriti Kaul: GL-2014-A-58-BVI
Veerpal: GL-2014-A-62-BVI
Manjot Kaur: L-2016-A-84-BIV
Harleen Kaur: L-2016-A-124-BIV

2. Biofertilizers : Definition
Carrier based preparations
Contain beneficial microbes
For seed or soil application
To improve soil fertility

3. Types of Biofertilizers
N-Fixing
Symbiotic
>Rhizobium
>Azolla-
Anabaena
Non-
symbiotic
>Free-living:
Azotobacter,
Blue-Green
Algae
>Associative
interaction:
Azospirillum
Potassium
Solubilizers:
Bacillus
mucilagenosus
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus teris
Phosphate
Solublizers
Bacillus subtilis
Pseudomonas
striata
Aspergillus
Penicillium
digitatum
Streptomyces
Nocardia
Phosphate
Mobilizers
(Mycorrhiza)

4. N-Fixing
Biofertilizers

5. Aerobic symbiont
Root nodules of
legumes
Fixes 50-200 kg
Nitrogen/ha
Symbiotic N-fixer: Rhizobium

6. Species Host Plants
R. melliloti Alfa-alfa, Sweet Clover, Fenugreek
R. leguminosarum viciae Pea, Lentil
R. leguminosarum phaseoli Beans
R. leguminosarum trifolii Berseem
R. loti Lotus
R. fredii Soybean
Bradyrhizobium japonica & B. elankanii Soybean
B. spp Cowpea, Pigeanpea, Groundnut, Desi gram
Different Rhizobium strains

7. Azolla pinnata – Floating water fern
Anabaena – Lives in cavity of upper lobe
Biofertilizer in hot and humid conditions
& green manure in cooler area
25-40 kg N/ha
Azolla-Anabaena Symbiosis

9. Azolla in Paddy Field

10. Azotobacter chroococcum: 20-40 kg N/ha.
Also produces B-complex vitamins,
hetero- auxins , gibberellins and cytokinin
like substances
Blue Green Algae: 25-40 kg N/ha
Tolypothrix, Nostoc etc
Azospirillum : 20-40 kg N/ha
Loose association with C-4 plants like
sugarcane and maize
Non-Symbiotic N-fixers

12. Bacteria: Bacillus megathrium
phosphaticum, Agrobacterium etc
Fungi: Aspergillus awamori,
Pencillium digitatum etc.
Actinomycetes: Streptomyces,
Nocardia
Secrete organic acids to increase
solubility
Phosphate Solubilizers

13. Symbiotic association between higher
plant roots and fungi
External Mycelium: Uptake of P from
soil solution.
Helps drought stressed plants
Increases resistance to root disesases,
insect-pests and nematodes.
Phosphate Mobilizers: Mycorrhizae

14. K- Solubilizers
Bacillus mucilagenosus
Produces organic acids
by glucose oxidation
Frateuria aurantia
Obligatory anaerobe,
also known to solubilize
calcium

15. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria
Pseudomonas: Iron uptake, Thiobacillus:
S-oxidising
Effective Microbes (EM) based
Consortium of major microbes
Nano-based
Other Biofertilizers

16. 1. Strain
selection and
culturing of
microbes
2. Isolation and
mass production
3. Selection and
production of
carrier material
and mixing:
Solid-
Lignite/peat or
liquid carrier
Production of Biofertilizers

17. 4. Preparation of
inoculant
packet/container
5. Labelling 6. Storage
Production of Biofertilizers

18. 20-30 % increase in crop yield
Improving soil structure
Lowering production costs
Improving sustainability
Advantages of Biofertilizers

19. Raw material for carriers
Climate
Biological constraints
Technical constraints
Economics of production
Marketing constraints
Constraints of Biofertilizers