Biofertilizer
Definition
Biofertilizers are the substance that contains microbes, which helps in promoting the growth of
plants and trees by increasing the supply of essential nutrients to the plants. It comprises living
organisms which include mycorrhizal fungi, blue-green algae, and bacteria. Mycorrhizal fungi
preferentially withdraw minerals from organic matter for the plant whereas cyanobacteria are
characterized by the property of nitrogen fixation.
Types of Biofertilizers
Following are the important types of biofertilizers:
(i) Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
Rhizobium is one of the vital symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Here bacteria seek shelter and
obtain food from plants. In return, they help by providing fixed nitrogen to the plants.
(ii) Loose Association of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
Azospirillum is a nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live around the roots of higher plants but do not
develop an intimate relationship with plants. It is often termed as rhizosphere association as this
bacteria collect plant exudate and the same is used as a food by them. This process is termed as
associative mutualism.
(iii) Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacteria
Blue-Green algae or Cyanobacteria from the symbiotic association with several plants.
Liverworts, cycad roots, fern, and lichens are some of the Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.
Anabaena is found at the leaf cavities of the fern. It is responsible for nitrogen fixation. The fern
plants decay and release the same for utilization of the rice plants. Azolla pinnate is a fern that
resides in rice fields but they do not regulate the growth of the plant.
, (iv) Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
They are free-living soil bacteria which perform nitrogen fixation. They are saprotrophic
anaerobes such as Clostridium beijerinckii, Azotobacter, etc.
Among all the types of biofertilizers, Rhizobium and Azospirillum are most widely used.
Components of Biofertilizers
The components of biofertilizers include:
(i) Bio Compost
It is one of the eco-friendly product composed of waste material released from sugar industries
which are decomposed. It is magnified with human-friendly bacteria, fungi, and various plants.
(ii) Tricho-Card
It is an eco-friendly and nonpathogenic product used in a variety of crops as well as in
horticultural and ornamental plants, such as paddy apple, sugar cane, brinjal, corn, cotton,
vegetables, citrus, etc. It acts as a productive destroyer and antagonistic hyper parasitic against
eggs of several bores, shoot, fruit, leaves, flower eaters and other pathogens in the field.
(iii) Azotobacter
It protects the roots from pathogens present in the soil and plays a crucial role in fixing the
atmospheric nitrogen. Nitrogen is a very important nutrient for the plant and about 78% of the
total atmosphere comprises of nitrogen.
(iv) Phosphorus
Phosphorus is one of the essential nutrients for plants growth and development. Phosphate
solubilizing microorganisms, hydrolyze insoluble phosphorus compounds to the soluble form for
uptake by plants. Many fungi and bacteria are used for the purpose such
as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, etc.
, (v) Vermicompost
It is an Eco-friendly organic fertilizer comprises of vitamins, hormones, organic carbon, sulfur,
antibiotics that help to increase the quantity and quality of yield. Vermicompost is one of the
quick fixes to improve the fertility of the soil.
Importance of Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers are important for the following reasons:
Biofertilizers improve soil texture and yield of plants.
They do not allow pathogens to flourish.
They are eco-friendly and cost-effective.
Biofertilizers protect the environment from pollutants since they are natural fertilizers.
They destroy many harmful substances present in the soil that can cause plant diseases.
Biofertilizers are proved to be effective even under semi-arid conditions.
Applications of Biofertilizers
Following are the important applications of biofertilizers:
(i) Seedling root dip
This method is applicable to rice crops. The seedlings are planted in the bed of water for 8-10
hours.
(ii) Seed Treatment
The seeds are dipped in the mixture of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. These seeds are then
dried and sown as soon as possible.
(iii) Soil Treatment
The biofertilizers along with the compost fertilizers are mixed and kept for one night. This
mixture is then spread on the soil where the seeds have to be sown.
Definition
Biofertilizers are the substance that contains microbes, which helps in promoting the growth of
plants and trees by increasing the supply of essential nutrients to the plants. It comprises living
organisms which include mycorrhizal fungi, blue-green algae, and bacteria. Mycorrhizal fungi
preferentially withdraw minerals from organic matter for the plant whereas cyanobacteria are
characterized by the property of nitrogen fixation.
Types of Biofertilizers
Following are the important types of biofertilizers:
(i) Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
Rhizobium is one of the vital symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Here bacteria seek shelter and
obtain food from plants. In return, they help by providing fixed nitrogen to the plants.
(ii) Loose Association of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
Azospirillum is a nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live around the roots of higher plants but do not
develop an intimate relationship with plants. It is often termed as rhizosphere association as this
bacteria collect plant exudate and the same is used as a food by them. This process is termed as
associative mutualism.
(iii) Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacteria
Blue-Green algae or Cyanobacteria from the symbiotic association with several plants.
Liverworts, cycad roots, fern, and lichens are some of the Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.
Anabaena is found at the leaf cavities of the fern. It is responsible for nitrogen fixation. The fern
plants decay and release the same for utilization of the rice plants. Azolla pinnate is a fern that
resides in rice fields but they do not regulate the growth of the plant.
, (iv) Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
They are free-living soil bacteria which perform nitrogen fixation. They are saprotrophic
anaerobes such as Clostridium beijerinckii, Azotobacter, etc.
Among all the types of biofertilizers, Rhizobium and Azospirillum are most widely used.
Components of Biofertilizers
The components of biofertilizers include:
(i) Bio Compost
It is one of the eco-friendly product composed of waste material released from sugar industries
which are decomposed. It is magnified with human-friendly bacteria, fungi, and various plants.
(ii) Tricho-Card
It is an eco-friendly and nonpathogenic product used in a variety of crops as well as in
horticultural and ornamental plants, such as paddy apple, sugar cane, brinjal, corn, cotton,
vegetables, citrus, etc. It acts as a productive destroyer and antagonistic hyper parasitic against
eggs of several bores, shoot, fruit, leaves, flower eaters and other pathogens in the field.
(iii) Azotobacter
It protects the roots from pathogens present in the soil and plays a crucial role in fixing the
atmospheric nitrogen. Nitrogen is a very important nutrient for the plant and about 78% of the
total atmosphere comprises of nitrogen.
(iv) Phosphorus
Phosphorus is one of the essential nutrients for plants growth and development. Phosphate
solubilizing microorganisms, hydrolyze insoluble phosphorus compounds to the soluble form for
uptake by plants. Many fungi and bacteria are used for the purpose such
as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, etc.
, (v) Vermicompost
It is an Eco-friendly organic fertilizer comprises of vitamins, hormones, organic carbon, sulfur,
antibiotics that help to increase the quantity and quality of yield. Vermicompost is one of the
quick fixes to improve the fertility of the soil.
Importance of Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers are important for the following reasons:
Biofertilizers improve soil texture and yield of plants.
They do not allow pathogens to flourish.
They are eco-friendly and cost-effective.
Biofertilizers protect the environment from pollutants since they are natural fertilizers.
They destroy many harmful substances present in the soil that can cause plant diseases.
Biofertilizers are proved to be effective even under semi-arid conditions.
Applications of Biofertilizers
Following are the important applications of biofertilizers:
(i) Seedling root dip
This method is applicable to rice crops. The seedlings are planted in the bed of water for 8-10
hours.
(ii) Seed Treatment
The seeds are dipped in the mixture of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. These seeds are then
dried and sown as soon as possible.
(iii) Soil Treatment
The biofertilizers along with the compost fertilizers are mixed and kept for one night. This
mixture is then spread on the soil where the seeds have to be sown.
