Phosphatic Bio-fertilisers

Phosphatic Bio-fertilisers

Phosphatic Bio-fertilisers
The soil is inhabited by a group of bacteria termed as phospho bacteria which have the capacity of releasing bound phosphates in the soil and thus making it available for the plants. They act indifferent ways. Some bacteria secrete organic acids such as lactic acid, acetic acid and citric acid which solubilise the bound phosphate to forms which are available to plants.

Others produce sulphuric acid by oxidation of sulphur which acts like the organic acids in making phosphate available. Carbonic acid formed by the action of carbon dioxide released by bacteria during respiration and water acts in a similar way.

Some organisms give off hydrogen sulphide which reacts with the iron salt, ferrous phosphate, to form ferrous sulphide and thus releases the phosphate.

Microbes are also responsible for decay of dead animal and plant litter in the soil during which humic and fulvic acids are formed which bind the metal ions such as Fe, AI, Mn and Ca and release the phosphate ions for the plants.

The most common varieties of phosphobacteria are Pseudomonas species and Bacillus megaterium. Like Rhizobium, they are used as seed inoculants.

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