This document provides an overview of biofertilizers from an Indian perspective. It defines biofertilizers as microbial inoculants supported on carriers that are designed to improve soil fertility and provide growth promoters. The document discusses various types of biofertilizers including Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, cyanobacteria, and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. It also covers India's history with biofertilizers, factors affecting their performance, application methods, production process, constraints to the industry's growth, and marketing challenges.

1. ABOUT
BIOFERTILIZERS
INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

2. BIOFERTILIZERS ARE MICROBIAL
INOCULANTS SUPPORTED ON
CARRIERS AND MAKE
AGRICULTURE:
# environmentally sustainable,
# economically rewarding,
# intellectually stimulating.

3. WHAT ARE BIOFERTILIZERS [BF]?
• Microbial inoculants that are carrier-based
preparations containing beneficial
microorganisms in a viable state.
• Intended for seed or soil application.
• Designed to improve soil fertility in N and P
• Provide growth promoter substances.
3

4. Microbial inoculants
• Artificially multiplied cultures of certain
soil organisms that can improve soil
fertility and crop productivity.
• Rhizobia were discovered in 1895,
followed by the Azotobacter and then
the blue green algae and a host of other
micro-organisms.
• Azospirillum and Vesicular- Arbuscular
Micorrhizae (VAM) are fairly recent
discoveries.
4

5. 5

6. BIOFERTILIZERS: USE IN INDIA
# First commercial production of legume
Rhizobium symbiosis was done in 1956
# Ninth Plan initiated National Project on
Development and Use of Biofertilizers
(NPDB).
# To supplement chemical fertilizers that
become expensive and deteriorate soil.
6

7. Factors affecting Performance of
biofertilizers:
• Host plant
• Soil fertility
• Cropping practices
• Biological & environmental factors
Survival and efficiency of BF are
affected by the above factors
7

8. Rhizobium
• Bacteria that grows in root nodules of
legumes [soya bean, etc.]
• Rhizobium INOCULANTS:
Use of Rhizobium culture in legumes is
most promising. On average, its use can
supply 15-20 kg N/ha to legumes: increase
yield up to 20 per cent.
8

9. 9

10. Rhizobium
• Rhizobium bacteria in roots of legume
plants fix atmospheric N2 in nodules
formed on the roots of plants.
A pure and efficient strain of
Rhizobium multiplied in the lab on a
suitable medium by using shake flask
technology or fermentation technology
and inoculated into seed or root.
10

11. 11

12. Inoculum Application
12

13. Inoculum Application
13

14. 14

15. Non-legume INOCULANTS
Azotobacter
# These bacteria enhance the plant
growth and finally yield. A highly efficient
strain _
Azotobacter chrooccocum is grown in
the lab either as shake culture or using
fermenter.
15

16. 16

17. Azotobacter:
• Free living micro-organisms, that grow
in the rhizosphere and fix atmospheric
nitrogen non-symbiotically
• Makes it available to particularly
cereals. Promotes seed germination,
initial vigor of plants- by producing
growth producing substances
17

18. 18

19. 19

20. Azospirillum
• Azospirillum, [ Azospirillum lipoferum,
biological nitrogen fixing grasses;
enhance biomass-root system]
• Associative endo-symbiont on roots of
grasses and similar types of plants.
Also fixes atmospheric nitrogen and
benefits host plants by supplying growth
hormones and vitamins.
20

21. Azospirillum
• Commonly used for preparation of
commercial inoculants on a large
scale, for cereals and grasses as it
produces growth promoters in
addition to fixing N2.
• Has good adaptability to temp, soil
pH and wide host range.
21

22. 22

23. Cyanobacteria INOCULANTS::
• Biological nitrogen fixing ;
photosynthetic also; Some free living
cyanobacteria like Nostoc, Tolypothirix
etc and other symbiotic like -
Anabaena-Azolle_ useful for rice
23

24. Cyanobacteria
An important group of micro-organisms,
fix atmospheric nitrogen non-
symbiotically mostly in rice fields in
heterocysts cells, specially known as
sites of nitrogen fixation.
24

25. Cyanobacteria: Preparation
Efficient strains_ used for
multiplication on a large scale in
field. Production of inoculum in
artificially controlled conditions is
defined but more expensive.
Open air soil culture_ most
simple, less expensive_ easily
adaptable by the farmers.
25

26. Cyanobacteria: Preparation
– # Based on use of starter culture that is
multi-strain inoculum of_ Aulosira,
Tolypothrix, Scytonema, Nostoc and
Anabaena.
– # In rural areas, unskilled labour can
undertake the multiplication of blue green
algae as a paying industry.
26

27. Phosphate SOLUBILIZING
INOCULANTS
• Phosphate solubilizing
microorganisms are
Bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) and / or
fungi (Aspergillus awamorii) -
• Secrete organic acids - dissolve bound
phosphate in soil
27

28. Phosphate Solubilizing bacteria / fungi:
Phosphorus_ required for plant growth
and water yield. It is also essential for
nodulation by Rhizobium.
– Phospho-micro organism are mostly
bacteria and fungi. Mycorrhizae have
high potential of phosphorus
accummulation in plants.
28

29. VAM fungi
[Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza]
Intracellular, obligate, fungal endo-
symbiont - glomus etc.- transfers
phosphorus, zinc & sulfur from soil to
root.
29

30. A schematic diagram of Vesicular
arbuscular mycorrhiza
30

31. Mycorrhiza
• Colonise 85% of land plants_ offers
50 % saving in chemical P fertilizer_
higher resistance to soil-and-root
borne pathogens_ helps in
wasteland reclamation by providing
extended arm to plant root system.
# A broad-spectrum mycorrhizal
biofertilizer is available.
31

32. Mycorrhiza Produced by:
# M/s Cadila Pharamaceutical
Ltd., Ahemdabad, and KCP
Sugar and Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.,
Chennai [DBT-TERI, New Delhi’s
technology].
32

33. Award for Producer of Mycorrhiza
• KCP Sugar Industries received
the All India Biotechnology
Association Award for
production and marketing of
the mycorrhizal bio-fertilizer.
33

34. Estimated potential Demand for
Biofertilisers by 2000-2001
• Type of Biofertiliser • Demand (Tonnes)
• Rhizobium • 34,999
• Azotobacter • 145,953
• Azospirillum • 74,342
• 251,738
• Blue green Algae
• Phosphate solublising • 255,340
microorganism
762,372
• Total:
34

35. Biofertilizer Production Support:
GOI- 1999-2000
• National Biofertilizer Development
Centre- established at Ghaziabad with 6
Regional BF Development Centres
each at Jabalpur, Hissar, Nagpur,
Bangalore, Bhubaneswar and Imphal.
• Under this scheme 74 BF-production
units established with central
assistance having annual production
capacity of 8475 tonnes.
35

36. Promoting Bio-fertilizers: Current Situation
• A limited extent of success till date
(2000).
• There has been no accelerated growth
in distribution with time.
• Inadequate spatial diffusion.
• Despite entry of small private units into
the industry there is no clear indication
of the success of privatization.
36

37. Progress of the bio-fertilizer Industry
• Based on the data for 1995, 1997
and 1999, the industry witnessed a
steady increase in the number of
units producing the BF ;
• the bulk of the growth took place by
1992-95 of the sample period and
stagnated thereafter.
37

38. Changes in the share by type of BF
• moderate success in AZT and by
far the best performance by PSB
• decline in RHZ indicated success in
groundnut and pulses was below
expectation.
38

39. 39

40. 40

41. 41

42. 42

43. Main constraints in spread of
BF as an Industry:
1. Inadequate production and supply
of efficient cultures of micro-
organisms to farmers well before
sowing.
2. Quality control aspect
3. Lack of publicity, communication.
43

44. Marketing: Host, soil & climate specific
BF: Receive user feedback
• To cover the vast areas of legumes,
pulses and oil seeds cereals and
horticultural crops- to train users to
apply and to receive feedback info.
from them.
• More manufacturer-distributors
needed_ to prepare the bio-fertilizers in
particular locality and supply to farmers
as per farmer’s need, while earning
profit.
44

45. Marketing of BF: Logistics
• # Prepared bio-fertilizers should reach
farmers prior to sowing.
# If given free of cost, that lowers down
the importance of product and farmers
don’t use them carefully.
# If bio-fertilizers are supplied after
expiry date_expected results are not
obtained.
45

46. Steps in biofertilizer production
Strain selection,
Mass Culture,
Carrier preparation and
Inoculation
Quality testing.
Packaging
Distribution
46

47. NATURE OF BF INDUSTRY:
• Indigenous technology
• Scientific aspects: Standardized by
Agricultural Universities and Research
Labs.
• Machineries and laboratory
equipments are of BIS standards.
47

48. Manufacturing equipments:
• Laboratory equipments,
• Autoclaves,
• Fermenter assembly,
• Boiler,
• Broth dispensers,
• Plant for sterlisation, deminralising
• Air compressor
48

49. The size of a Biofertiliser unit:
• Capacity of production of various types /
strains of bio-fertilizers per annum.
• The projects so far set up in our country
vary from 75 TPA to 300 TPA.
• Expandable by adding a few additional
equipment like a fermenter and / or
adding another shift.
49

50. Requirements of BF Projects
1 Land
2 Layout and buildings
3 Plant and Machinery
4 Manufacturing process and Source of technology
5 Infrastructural Facilities for raw material, carrier material
and utilities (Power, Water, Compressed air, Vehicles)
6 Manpower Unit Size
7 Business Prospects And Marketing and Selling
50
Arrangements

51. 51

52. SOME OF BIO-
FERTILIZERS
IN THE
MARKET
52

53. Dr Bhabani Dikshit
53

54. 54

55. 55

56. 56

57. 57

58. 58

59. 59

60. 60

61. 61

62. 62

63. Extension work needed for popularizing BF
• Visits to areas of undivided Puri district
comprising of Pipli , Khurda and Nayagarh
belt, showed that a large number of farmer
of Chandanpur area applied biofertilizer in
their betel vine crops by using Azatobactor
and PSB (Phosphates soluble bacteria) and
yielded good results. A senior Government
agronomist of the Fertilizer Promotion and
Agricultural Research Division (FP & ARD)
based in Puri, Simanchala Panigrahi, said
that as biofertilizer was a new concept to the
farmers of Orissa, it needed further vigorous
63
extension work for popularizing its use.

64. 64

65. 65

66. 66

67. 67

68. BOOKS ABOUT
BIOFERTILIZERS
CONTINUED

69. Indian Books on Biofertilizers-1
• Biofertilizer - Technology, Marketing
and usage, a source book-cum-
Glossary by Dr. M R Motsara et al
(1995) - Fertilizer Development and
Consultation Organization publishers,
New Delhi 110048 (India)
69

70. Indian Books on Biofertilizers-2
• Biofertilizers in Agriculture and Forestry
by N S Subba Rao, Oxford & IBH, New
Delhi.
• Biotechnology of Biofertilizers Edited by
S. Kannaiyan, Narosa Publishing
House, N. Delhi, 2002
70

71. Indian Books on Biofertilizers -3
• Recent Advances in Biofertilizer Technology/
Edited by A.K. Yadav, S. Ray Chaudhuri and
M.R. Motsara, 2001, Society for Promotion
and Utilisation of Resources and Technology,
New Delhi. [Vedam Books]
• Phosphatic Biofertilizers / Laxmi Lal. Udaipur,
Agrotech Pub., 2002.
71

72. Handbook of Biofertilizers
• Handbook of microbial biofertilizers, M. K. Rai,
Routledge, 2006 - 579 pages,
• Sharply focused, up-to-date information on microbial
biofertilizers--including emerging options such as
"Piriformospora indica" and "Matsutake" The Handbook
of Microbial Biofertilizers provides in-depth coverage of
all major microbial biofertilizers (rhizobia, arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi, and cyanobacterias well as new and
emerging growth promoters (endophytes). 72

73. It examines the role of microbes in growth promotion,
bioprotectors, and bioremidiators, and presents protocols
and practical strategies for using microbes in sustainable
agriculture.
An abundance of helpful charts, tables, and figures make
complex information easy to access and understand.
In this first-of-its-kind volume, contributors from 11
countries and several continents address important
issues surrounding microbial biofertilizers,
73

74. … including: the rhizobium-host-arbuscular mycorrhizal"
tripartite relationship, mycorrhiza as a disease suppresser
and stress reducer mycorrhiza helping bacteria the
impact of functional groups of soil microorganisms on
nutrient turnover PBPRs as biofertilizers and
biopesticides the potential of wild-legume rhizobia for use
as a biofertilizers, the expanding role of blue-green algae
in sustainable agriculture, the role of microbial fertilizers
in sustainable plant production new and emerging
endophytes the commercial potential of biofertilizers
74

75. In this young century, the use of biofertilizers is already
growing rapidly. It has been recognized that these
environment-friendly bioprotectors, growth boosters, and
remediators are essential for soil / plant health. The
Handbook of Microbial Biofertilizers is designed to fit the
expanding information needs of current and future
biotechnologists, microbiologists, botanists, agronomists,
environmentalists, and others whose work involves
sustained agriculture.
Handbook of Biofertilizers
75