Microorganisms in Bio Fertilizer
B V C M Benaragama
What are Bio Fertilizers?
Fertilizers produced biologically, mainly using
microorganisms.
Types of MOs used in
manufacturing Bio
fertilizers
1. Rhizobium Bacteria
2. Azotobacter
3. Azospirillum
4. Phosphate Solubilizing
Bacteria (PSB)
5. Blue Green Algae (BGA)
Rhizobium Bacteria
Function
Rhizobium have the ability to fix
atmospheric nitrogen which is unavailable for
plants. Rhizobium transform atmospheric
nitrogen into nitrates.
Example
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Mechanism
1. Legumes have a symbiotic
relationship with rhizobia (root
nodule bacteria)
2. Rhizobia have the ability to fix
atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates
3. Then those nitrates are available
to the host plant, the legume.
Application
s
Rhizobium Species Host Plants
Bradyrhizobium japanicum Soyabean
Rhizobium fredii Soyabean
R. phaseoil Common Bean
R. meliloti Alfalfa
R. trifolii Peas
Azotobacter Bacteria
Function
Azotobacter is a free-living nitrogen-
fixing bacterium. Which is used as a
biofertilizer in the cultivation of most crops.
Example
Azotobacter vinelandii
Mechanism
1. Biological nitrogen fixation under
free-living conditions .
2. Production of phytohormones like
indole 3-acetic acid gibberrillin-
like substances and cytokinins.
3. Solubilization of insoluble
phosphate.
Application
s
Azotobacter fertilizer can be used for
wide range of plants some of them are
given below
Tomato
Rice
Potato
Cotton
Wheat
Lemon
Mango
Kinnaw
Azospirillum
Function
● Azospirillum is one of the most widely used free living nitrogen fixing microgrnisms
from the family of Rhodospirilliaceae
● They can be found both in in legume and non legume crops
Example
Azotobacter vinelandii
Mechanism
Azospirillum on plants
● Produce of phytohormones,
● Fix of atmospheric nitrogen,
● Reduction of nitrate,
● Enhance of mineral uptake by plant
Applications
Bacterial species Used for
A. brasilense,
A. lipoferum,
A. halopraeferens
A. oryzae
Used for biofertilizer,mainly for
cereals
Azospirillum brasilense Fix nitrogen in the presence of low
oxygen level
Azospirillum oryzae Associated with the roots of oryza
sativa
Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria
● Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant
● Phosphate fertilizer is easily precipitated into soluble form
● Phosphate solublizing is activity greater for fungi than bacteria
● This bacteria are beneficial bacterial capable of solublizing inorganic phosphorus
from insoluble compounds
Scientific name -
Bacillus megaterium
Mechanism
● Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms
convert insoluble phosphate into soluble
form
● Through the processes of acidification,
by the production of organic acids,
production of acid and alkaline
phosphate
● These organic acid can either dissolve
phosphate as a result of anion exchange
Applications
Bacterial species Used for
Bacillus megaterium Used to enhance Cd bioavailability
and plant biomass
B. megaterium Increased the extent of Cd
accumulation
The change of Cd indicated that
inoculation
Blue Green Algae
Blue-green algae are actually a type of
bacteria that is known as Cyanobacteria.
Function
● Use the sun's energy to manufacture their own
food through photosynthesis.
● Fix atmospheric nitrogen level
Examples
Nostocales, Spirulina
Mechanism
● They have chlorophyll and
phycobiliprotein and can fix carbon by
oxygen-evolution photosynthesis like
plants
● They have Heterocysts cells
● Heterocysts cells provide the anaerobic
(oxygen-free) environment necessary for
the operation of the nitrogen-fixing
enzymes.
Applications
Bacterial species Used for
Spirulina As a natural food coloring in gum
and candy
Nostocales To fix nitrogen level, For avoid water
pollution
Anabaena, Nostoc and Oscillatoria produce a great variety of secondary
metabolites.
Advantages
1. Improves soil organic matter
2. Improves soil structure and tilth
3. Improves soil water holding
capacity
4. Reduces soil crusting problems
5. Reduces erosion from wind
and water
Disadvantages
1. Not essentially rich in all
nutrients
2. Shorter shelf life
3. Does not adapt as per the
situation
Questions?

Microorganisms used in biofertilizers

  • 1.
    Microorganisms in BioFertilizer B V C M Benaragama
  • 2.
    What are BioFertilizers? Fertilizers produced biologically, mainly using microorganisms.
  • 3.
    Types of MOsused in manufacturing Bio fertilizers 1. Rhizobium Bacteria 2. Azotobacter 3. Azospirillum 4. Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) 5. Blue Green Algae (BGA)
  • 4.
    Rhizobium Bacteria Function Rhizobium havethe ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen which is unavailable for plants. Rhizobium transform atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates. Example Rhizobium leguminosarum
  • 5.
    Mechanism 1. Legumes havea symbiotic relationship with rhizobia (root nodule bacteria) 2. Rhizobia have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates 3. Then those nitrates are available to the host plant, the legume.
  • 6.
    Application s Rhizobium Species HostPlants Bradyrhizobium japanicum Soyabean Rhizobium fredii Soyabean R. phaseoil Common Bean R. meliloti Alfalfa R. trifolii Peas
  • 7.
    Azotobacter Bacteria Function Azotobacter isa free-living nitrogen- fixing bacterium. Which is used as a biofertilizer in the cultivation of most crops. Example Azotobacter vinelandii
  • 8.
    Mechanism 1. Biological nitrogenfixation under free-living conditions . 2. Production of phytohormones like indole 3-acetic acid gibberrillin- like substances and cytokinins. 3. Solubilization of insoluble phosphate.
  • 9.
    Application s Azotobacter fertilizer canbe used for wide range of plants some of them are given below Tomato Rice Potato Cotton Wheat Lemon Mango Kinnaw
  • 10.
    Azospirillum Function ● Azospirillum isone of the most widely used free living nitrogen fixing microgrnisms from the family of Rhodospirilliaceae ● They can be found both in in legume and non legume crops Example Azotobacter vinelandii
  • 11.
    Mechanism Azospirillum on plants ●Produce of phytohormones, ● Fix of atmospheric nitrogen, ● Reduction of nitrate, ● Enhance of mineral uptake by plant
  • 12.
    Applications Bacterial species Usedfor A. brasilense, A. lipoferum, A. halopraeferens A. oryzae Used for biofertilizer,mainly for cereals Azospirillum brasilense Fix nitrogen in the presence of low oxygen level Azospirillum oryzae Associated with the roots of oryza sativa
  • 13.
    Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria ●Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant ● Phosphate fertilizer is easily precipitated into soluble form ● Phosphate solublizing is activity greater for fungi than bacteria ● This bacteria are beneficial bacterial capable of solublizing inorganic phosphorus from insoluble compounds Scientific name - Bacillus megaterium
  • 14.
    Mechanism ● Phosphate solubilizingmicroorganisms convert insoluble phosphate into soluble form ● Through the processes of acidification, by the production of organic acids, production of acid and alkaline phosphate ● These organic acid can either dissolve phosphate as a result of anion exchange
  • 15.
    Applications Bacterial species Usedfor Bacillus megaterium Used to enhance Cd bioavailability and plant biomass B. megaterium Increased the extent of Cd accumulation The change of Cd indicated that inoculation
  • 16.
    Blue Green Algae Blue-greenalgae are actually a type of bacteria that is known as Cyanobacteria. Function ● Use the sun's energy to manufacture their own food through photosynthesis. ● Fix atmospheric nitrogen level Examples Nostocales, Spirulina
  • 17.
    Mechanism ● They havechlorophyll and phycobiliprotein and can fix carbon by oxygen-evolution photosynthesis like plants ● They have Heterocysts cells ● Heterocysts cells provide the anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment necessary for the operation of the nitrogen-fixing enzymes.
  • 18.
    Applications Bacterial species Usedfor Spirulina As a natural food coloring in gum and candy Nostocales To fix nitrogen level, For avoid water pollution Anabaena, Nostoc and Oscillatoria produce a great variety of secondary metabolites.
  • 19.
    Advantages 1. Improves soilorganic matter 2. Improves soil structure and tilth 3. Improves soil water holding capacity 4. Reduces soil crusting problems 5. Reduces erosion from wind and water Disadvantages 1. Not essentially rich in all nutrients 2. Shorter shelf life 3. Does not adapt as per the situation
  • 20.