Bio-inoculants are microbes that fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus and other nutrients, and produce plant growth promoting substances. They improve plant growth, yield, and soil health. There is an increasing demand for bio-inoculants due to declining microbe populations and efficiency in soils. Government policy aims to supply quality seeds and increase production through conserving the environment and soil health. The document recommends various bio-inoculants for oilseed and pulse crops and describes methods of inoculation through seed treatment or soil application to provide essential nutrients to crops, improve yields, reduce costs, and protect soil fertility in an eco-friendly manner.

1. BIO-INOCULANTS
FOR
QUALITY SEED PRODUCTION
OF
OIL SEEDS AND PULSES
Dr. S. Sundaravarathan, Professor (Agrl. Microbiology)

2. What are Bio-inoculants ?
Microbes that
Fix N
Solubilize P, K, Zn...
Mobilize nutrients-Mycorhiza
Produce PGP substances
Act as bio-control organisms
Improves growth, yield of plants and soil health

3. NEED FOR BIO-INOCULANTS
• Microbes – less in number and efficiency in
soil
• Increasing demand for Bio-inoculants
• Focus on conserving environment & soil
health
• Govt. Policy to supply quality seeds and
increase production

4. Bioinoculants recommended for Oilseeds and Pulses
Type of Bioinoculant Recommended crop
Nitrogen fixers
Rhizobium
All pulses, Ground nut
Azospirillum, Azotobacter All oilseed crops
P solublizing bacteria
Bacillus, Pseudomonas
All pulses and oilseed crops
P mobilizers
AM fungi
All crops
K, Zn solublizers
Bacillus
All crops
Sulphur solublizers
Thiobacillus thiooxidans
Oilseed crops
PGPR & Biocontrol agents
Pseudomonas fluoresense,
Trichoderma viride
All crops

5. Method of Inoculation

Biofertilizers

Seed Treatment – 400 to 600g / ac

Soil application – 2kg / ac

Biocontrol agents

Seed Treatment – 4 to 10g / kg seed

Soil application – 2kg / ac

6. Conclusion
Bioinoculants provide

Essential nutrients to crops

Produce PGP substances

Improves growth and yield of crops

Protects crops against diseases and pests

Reduces the cost of cultivation

Improces soil fertility

And also ecofriendly

7. Thank you