Biofertilizer

Biofertilizer

► Biofertilizers are the substance that contains

microorganism's living or latent cells. 
► Biofertilizers increases the nutrients of host plants
when applied to their seeds, plant surface or soil by
colonizing the rhizosphere of the plant.
► Biofertilizers are more cost-effective as compared to
chemical fertilizers
Biofertilizer

► ‘Bio’ means ‘life’. Therefore, by definition bio

fertilizers are living organisms that enrich the nutrient
quality of the soil.
► It refers to the use of microbes instead of chemicals to
enhance the nutrition of the soil. As a result, it is also
less harmful and does not cause pollution.
Biofertilizer

► This is what makes them so important to organic

farming because they are completely
environment-friendly. Let’s take a look at the different
microbes that are used as biofertilizers.
► Over the years, chemical fertilizers have helped farmers
increase crop production to meet the increasing
demand. However, the overuse of these fertilizers is
harmful because they cause air and water pollution; and
also deplete minerals from the soil. Therefore, there is
a need to now switch to organic farming which involves
the use of ‘Biofertilizers’.
Biofertilizer
► Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly fertilizers, which are being
used to improve the quality and fertility of the soil.
► Bio-fertilizers are made from biological wastes and they do
not contain any chemicals. They are beneficial to the soil,
as they enrich the soil with micro-organisms that help in
producing organic nutrients, which in turn help the soil to
fight diseases. They therefore enrich the nutrient quality of
the soil. They also restore the depleted nutrients of the
soil. 
► The main sources of bio-fertilizers are bacteria, fungi and
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
► Plants have a special relationship with bacteria and fungi.
They provide the plant with nutrition, resistance against
diseases and the ability to combat worst climatic
conditions.
Different microbes that are
used as bio fertilizers.
▪ Bacteria

▪ Fungi

▪ Cyanobacteria
 Bacteria
► You may have already studied about the nitrogen-fixing nodules on the
roots of legumes. This a great example of biofertilizers. The nodules are
formed by the association of the bacterium ‘Rhizobium’ with the roots of
these plants. This association is beneficial and is, therefore, called
‘symbiotic’.
Fungi

► Symbiotic associations exist between plants and fungi

too.
► These associations are called ‘Mycorrhizae’.
► The fungus in this association absorbs phosphorus from
the soil and provides it to the plant. Plants that grow
with these associations also show other advantageous
characteristics such as:
❑ Tolerance to drought conditions and salinity.
❑ Resistance to root-borne pathogens.
❑ An overall increase in plant growth and development.
Cyanobacteria

► These are blue-green bacteria found in water and on

land.
► They also help fix atmospheric nitrogen. Examples
are Oscillatoria, Nostoc, Anabaena etc.
► The symbiotic association between the aquatic fern
Azolla and Anabaena is very important for rice fields.
► In this association, Anabaena receives carbon and
nitrogen from the plant in exchange for fixed nitrogen.
► This adds organic matter to the soil enhancing the
fertility of rice fields.
Solved Example For You

► Which of these biofertilizers provide phosphorus to the

plants?
1. Oscillatoria
2. Rhizobium
3. Nostoc
4. Mycorrhizae
► The correct answer is option “d”. Mycorrhizae provide
phosphorus to the plants while the others fix
atmospheric nitrogen that can be used by the plants.
Legume and careals

► c
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Nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers

► Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, microorganisms capable of

transforming atmospheric nitrogen into fixed
nitrogen (inorganic compounds usable by plants). More
than 90 percent of all nitrogen fixation is effected by
these organisms, which thus play an important role in
the nitrogen cycle.
► Two kinds of nitrogen-fixing bacteria are recognized.
► 1)The free-living (nonsymbiotic) bacteria, includes
the cyanobacteria (or blue-green
algae) Anabaena and Nostoc and genera such
as Azotobacter, Beijerinckia, and Clostridium. 
► 2) comprises the mutualistic (symbiotic) bacteria;
examples include Rhizobium, associated with
leguminous plants (e.g., various members of the pea
family); Frankia, associated with certain dicotyledonous
species (actinorhizal plants); and
certain Azospirillum species, associated with cereal
grasses.
► The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria invade the root
hairs of host plants, where they multiply and stimulate
formation of root nodules, enlargements of plant cells
and bacteria in intimate association. 
Phosphorous solubilising
biofertilizers(PSB)
► Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are beneficial
bacteria capable of solubilizing inorganic phosphorus
from insoluble compounds.
► P-solubilization ability of rhizosphere microorganisms is
considered to be one of the most important traits
associated with plant phosphate nutrition.
► It is generally accepted that the mechanism of mineral
phosphate solubilization by PSB strains is associated
with the release of low molecular weight organic acids,
through which their hydroxyl and carboxyl groups
chelate the cations bound to phosphate, thereby
converting it into soluble forms.
► PSB have been introduced to the Agricultural community
as phosphate Biofertilizer.
► Phosphorus (P) is one of the major essential
macronutrients for plants and is applied to soil in the
form of phosphate fertilizers.
► However, a large portion of soluble inorganic phosphate
which is applied to the soil as chemical fertilizer is
immobilized rapidly and becomes unavailable to plants.
► Currently, the main purpose in managing soil
phosphorus is to optimize crop production and minimize
P loss from soils. 
► PSB have attracted the attention of agriculturists as soil
inoculums to improve the plant growth and yield.
► When PSB is used with rock phosphate, it can save about
50% of the crop requirement of phosphatic fertilizer.
Preparation of Bio fertilizer

► Bio compost: It is a kind of organic fertilizer,

which is prepared from the waste of the sugar
industry. The waste is decomposed using a number
of human and plants friendly bacteria and Fungi.
Bio compost consists of nitrogen, phosphate
solubilizing bacteria and plenty of useful fungi like
the decomposing fungi. This biofertilizer helps the
farmers to increase soil fertility and thereby
increase the yield of the crops
► Vermi Compost: It is also an organic
fertilizer containing nitrogen phosphorus, potassium,
sulphur, organic carbon, sulfur, hormones, enzymes,
etc. If used over a period of time, the soil becomes
extremely fertile and all the lost nutrients are restored
back to the turf and the soil remains fertile
► Phospho: This is also a kind of bio-fertilizer, which
releases insoluble phosphorous in the soil, making it
more fertile
► Rhizo: It is a bacterial, which induces nitrogen fixing
nodules on the roots of vegetables like peas, beans,
etc., thereby, playing an important role in agriculture
► Azotobactor: Nitrogen plays an extremely important
role in plant growth. Azotobactor improves the quantity
of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and makes it
available to the plants. It also shields the roots from
other pathogens existing in the soil
Advantages of Using
Bio-Fertilizers
► Bio-fertilizers are becoming a rage, considering the
irreparable damage that the chemical fertilizers are
causing to the soil. Some of the advantages associated
with bio-fertilizers include:
► The first and the most important advantage of using
bio-fertilizers is that they are environment friendly,
unlike chemical fertilizers that damage the environment
► They are comparatively low on cost inputs and are light
on the pockets of the farmers
► Their use leads to soil enrichment and the quality of the
soil improves with time
► Though they do not show immediate results, but the
results shown over time are extremely spectacular
► Microorganisms convert complex organic materail into
simple compounds, so that the plant can easily take up
the nutrients
► These fertilizers harness atmospheric nitrogen and make
it directly available to the plants
► they increase the phosphorous content of the soil by
solubilising and releasing unavailable phosphorous
► Bio-fertilizers improve root proliferation due to the
release of growth promoting hormones
► They help in increasing the crop yield by 10-25%
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