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Bio-fertilizers

Introduction:
Fertilizers - The fertilizers are used to improve the fertility of the land using biological wastes, hence
the term biofertilizers, and biological wastes do not contain any chemicals which are detrimental to
the living soil.

 A Bio fertilizer is also called also bio-fertilizer.

 The name itself is self explanatory; Biofertilizers are the substances which make use
of microorganisms to fertile the soil.
 These fertilizers are not harmful to crops or other plants like the chemical fertilizers.
 They are actually taken from the animal wastes along with the microbial mixtures.
 Microorganisms are used to increase the level of nutrients in the plants.
 They let the plants grow in a healthy environment.
 They are also environment friendly and do not cause the pollution of any sort.
 Use of biofertilizers in the soil, makes the plants healthy as well as protect them
from getting any diseases.

“Any living organism supplying plant nutrients directly or indirectly is regarded as

biofertilizer. They are not synthetically manufactured in factory.”

Many organisms with a potentiality to supply plant nutrients - have been recognised. Use of
biofertilizers has many advantages.

They are:

 Biofertilizers are eco-friendly and do not cause pollution of air and water.
 They are more cost-effective than chemical fertilizers.
 Biofertilizers, besides supplying plant nutrients, build up the inherent capacity of soil
to produce, retain and supply plant nutrients on sustainable basis.
 Biofertilizers need not be carried over long distances.
 Biofertilizers supply many micro nutrients like zinc, boron, molybdenum, sulphur,
iron and calcium besides major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
But chemical fertilizers generally supply only one or two nutrients at a time.
 They prevent soil erosion and loss of nutrients by leaching.

 Bio-fertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fixation,

solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of
growth-promoting substances.

 Bio-fertilizers can be expected to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and

pesticides.
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 The microorganisms in bio-fertilizers restore the soil's natural nutrient cycle and
build soil organic matter.

 Through the use of bio-fertilizers, healthy plants can be grown, while enhancing the
sustainability and the health of the soil. Since they play several roles, a preferred
scientific term for such beneficial bacteria is "plant-growth promoting
rhizobacteria" (PGPR). Therefore, they are extremely advantageous in enriching soil
fertility and fulfilling plant nutrient requirements by supplying the organic nutrients
through microorganism and their byproducts. Hence, bio-fertilizers do not contain
any chemicals which are harmful to the living soil.

Types of Biofertilizers:-
1. Nitrogen Biofertilizers:- This type of biofertilizers helps the agriculturists to
determine the nitrogen level in the soil. Nitrogen is a necessary component which is
used for the growth of the plant. Plants need a limited amount of nitrogen for their
growth. The type of the crops also determines the level f nitrogen. Some crops need
more nitrogen for their growth while some crops need fewer amounts. The type of
the soil also determines that which type of biofertilizers is needed for this crop. Fr
example, Azotobacteria is used for the non legume crops; Rhizobium is needed for
the legume crops. Similarly blue green algae are needed to grow rice while
Acetobacter is used to grow sugarcane. It means almost all the crops need different
types of biofertilizers depending on their needs.

2. Phosphorus biofertilizers:- Phosphorus biofertilizers are used to determine the

phosphorus level in the soil. The need of phosphorus for the plant growth is also
limited. Phosphorus biofertilizers make the soil get the required amount of
phosphorus. It is not necessary that a particular phosphorus biofertilizers is used for
a particular type of crop. They can be used for any types of the crops for example;
Acetobacter, Rhizobium and other biofertilizers can use phosphotika for any crop
type.

3. Compost Biofertilizers:- Compost biofertilizers are those which make use of the
animal dung to enrich the soil with useful microorganisms and nutrients. To convert
the animals waste into a biofertilizers, the microorganisms like abcteria undergo
biological processes and help in breaking down the waste. Cellulytic fungal culture
and Azetobacter cultures can be used for the compost biofertilizers .

Galaxy of Biofertilizers:
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 Phospho: It releases insoluble phosphorus in soil and fix this phosphorus in clay
minerals which is of great significance in agriculture.
 Rhizo: Rhizo Bacterial plays a very important role in agriculture by inducing nitrogen
fixings nodules on the root of legumes such as peas,beans clove and alfalfa.
 Azotobactor: Atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen which is a very important nutrient
for plant growth. Azotobactor fixes the atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and make it
available to the plants. It protects the roots from other pathogens present in the soil.
 Trichoderma: It is a non- pathogenic and eco-friendly product. The product is
antagonistic hyper parasitic against different pathogens in the field and economically
well established biocontrol agent.
 Azolla-Anabena symbiosis: Azolla is a small, eukaryotic, aquatic fern having global
distribution.Prokaryotic blue green algae Anabena azolla resides in its leaves as a
symbiont. Azolla is an alternative nitrogen source. This association has gained wide
interest because of its potential use as an alternative to chemical fertilizers.

 Composter: (Decomposing Culture): Composter breaks down any organic matter

such as dead plants farm yard waste, cattle waste etc. thereby increasing the soil
productivity.
 Tricho-Card: Trichogramma is an efficient destroyer of eggs of many leaf and flower
eaters, stems, fruit, shoot borers etc. It can be used in a variety of crops as well as in
horticultural and ornamental plants,such as sugarcane, cotton, brinjal, tomato, corn,
jawar, vegetables, citrus, paddy apple etc.
 Vermi Compost: It is 100% pure eco-friendly organic fertilizer. This organic fertilizer
has nitrogen phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, sulphur, hormones, vitamins,
enzymes and antibiotics which helps to improve the quality and quantity of yield. It is
observed that due to continuous misuse of chemical fertiliser soil losses its fertility
and gets salty day by day. To overcome such problems natural farming is the only
remedy and Vermi compost is the best solution.
 Biocompost: It is eco-friendly organic fertilizer which is prepared from the sugar
industry waste material which is decomposed and enriched of with various plants
and human friendly bacteria and fungi. Biocompost consists of nitrogen, phosphate
solubilizing bacteria and various useful fungi like decomposing fungi, trichoderma
viridea which protects the plants from various soil borne disease and also help to
increase soil fertility which results to a good quality product to the farmers.

There are many types of biofertilizers, each one acting in its own specific way.

 Green manures

 Earthworms

 Nitrogen fixing organisms

 Azolla
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 Blue green algae

 Phosphate solubalising bacteria

 Vascicular - arbiscular mycorrhizae

Green manures -
Green manure refers to supplying the plant nutrients by application of living plant material
to the soil. The nutrients are made available after decomposition of green manure in soil.
Many plants have been identified for their potentiality as green manure.
The green manures are normally applied when they are succulent and tender so that they
can easily decompose in soil. The green manures are incorporated into the soil by ploughing
them. As the nutrients are made available entirely by biological sources they are popularly
called as biofertilizers.

There are two systems in the use of green manures:

 To bring the green leaf from outside and incorporating them in the soil.

 To grow green manure crop on the land for cultivation, before the main crop is
grown and incorporate the same in the soil before sowing the main crop.

The former system is usually followed in green manure tree crops such as Pongemia which
are grown either on roadside or in forests. The greener part of these plants are cut and
applied to cultivated field. The latter system is followed in other short duration green
manure crops - which are grown on cultivated lands.

Most of green manure crops are leguminous and have capacity to fix nitrogen. Their use as
green manure is advantageous - as this helps in meeting the nutrient demands of cultivated
crop. Green manuring is reported to have increased the crop yields by 10 - 20%.

Earthworms -
Earthworms have traditionally been known as friend of farmer. They were known as
farmer's friend due to their lifestyle involving

 turnover of the soil - as the earthworms move up and down in the soil, they help in
better aeration of soil and increase the permeability of soil.

 production of manure by eating away the organic wastes.

Recently, their potentiality to produce the manure is commercially exploited. Growing

earthworms on commercial scale to produce the manure is called as VERMICULTURE and
manure produced by it is called VERMICOMPOST.
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Earthworms work day and night to convert the organic wastes into a nutrient rich manure.
Any decomposable organic waste can be used to produce VERMICOMPOST. Such manure
contains all major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium besides many
micronutrients.

Advantages of biofertilizers:-
1. They help to get high yield of crops by making the soil rich with nutrients and useful
microorganisms necessary for the growth of the plants.
2. Biofertilizers have replaced the chemical fertilizers as chemical fertilizers are not
beneficial for the plants. They decrease the growth of the plants and make the
environment polluted by releasing harmful chemicals.
3. Plant growth can be increased if biofertilizers are used, because they contain natural
components which do not harm the plants but do the vice versa.
4. If the soil will be free of chemicals, it will retain its fertility which will be beneficial for
the plants as well as the environment, because plants will be protected from getting
any diseases and environment will be free of pollutants.
5. Biofertilizers destroy those harmful components from the soil which cause diseases
in the plants. Plants can also be protected against drought and other strict conditions
by using biofertilizers.
6. Biofertilizers are not costly and even poor farmers can make use of them.
7. They are environment friendly and protect the environment against pollutants.

Applications of biofertilizers to crop:-

Seedling root dip:- This method is applied to the rice crop. A bed of water is spread on the
land where the crop has to grow. The seedlings of rice are planted in the water and are kept
there for eight to ten hours.

Seed treatment:- In this method, the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are mixed together
in the water. Then seeds are dipped in this mixture. After the applications of this paste to
the seeds, seeds are dried. After they dry out, they have to be sown as soon as possible
before they get damaged by harmful microorganisms.

Soil treatment:- All the biofertilizers along with the compost fertilizers are mixed together.
They are kept for one night. Then the next day this mixture is spread on the soil where seeds
have to be sown.
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