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Index >> Biotechnology in Agriculture >> Biofertilizers

Biofertilizers

	Biofertilizers Biofertilizers are carrier based preparations containing beneficial microorganisms in a viable state intended for seed or soil application and designed to improve soil fertility and help plant growth by increasing the number and biological activity of desired microorganisms in the root environment. The term biofertilzers is of recent origin and is in vogue only in third world countries especially in India. Biofertilziers are ecofriendly and cannot at any rate replace chemical fertilizers that are indispensable for getting maximum yield of crops. These products can at best minimize the use of chemical fertilzers not exceeding 40 kg N./ha under ideal agronomic and pest-free conditions.
Nobbe and Hiltner in 1895 produced the first laboratory grown rhizobia for nearly 17 different legumes in the U.S.A. under the brand name 'Nitragin'. By 1920 there were several research institutions and private manufacturers in the business but today hardly few have stayed in the market and they produce inoculants mainly for soybean cultivation. In Australia, rhizobial inoculants are produced and used mainly for pasture legumes. In India, however, biofertilizers are produced and used for a variety of crops by incorporating non-symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria like Azotobacter and Azospirillum.
The crops include, sugarcane, cotton and millets. Rice being a staple diet is grown extensively and under hot and humid conditions, blue-green algae (Nostoc, Aulosira, Anabaena etc.) containing biofertilizer is being advocated while Azolla organic manure is advocated in cooler areas with moderate temperature. There is need for new and improved strains of bacteria of both N₂ fixing and p-solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas striata, Bacillus megatherium etc.) which can compete with native strains. These improvements in strain quality can come through natural selection or by genetic engineering methods. Another important factor is the shelf life of the product. Quality control measures are also important in the interest of farmers.

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