CHAPTER 10
BIOFERTILIZER
OBJECTIVE
Identify the basic concept in biofertilizer
INTRODUCTION
In the last century, chemical fertilizers were used
in agriculture. Farmers were happy of getting
increased yield in agriculture in the beginning.
But slowly chemical fertilizers started displaying
their ill-effects such as
Leaching out
polluting water basins
destroying micro-organisms and friendly
insects
making the crop more susceptible to the
attack of diseases
reducing the soil fertility and thus causing
irreparable damage to the overall system.
SOLUTION
A number of intellectuals throughout the world
started working on the alternatives
Found that biofertilizers can help in increasing
the yield without causing the damage associated
with chemical fertilizers.
WHAT IS BIOFERTILIZER?
Is a large population of a specific or a group of
beneficial microorganisms for enhancing the
productivity of soil
Either by fixing atmospheric nitrogen or by
solubilising soil phosphorus or by stimulating
plant growth through synthesis of growth
promoting substances.
Bio-fertilizers based on renewable energy source
are cost effective, eco-friendly and can help to
economise on the high investment needed for
chemical fertilizer
Bio-fertilizers (microbial inoculants) improve soil
fertility and enhance nutrient uptake and water
uptake in deficient soils, thereby aiding in better
establishment of plants.
Bio-fertilizers also secrete growth substances and
antifungal chemicals, as well as improve seed
germination and root growth.
Thus, the use of bio-fertilizers will effectively
enrich the soil and will cost less than chemical
fertilizers, which harm the environment and
deplete non-renewable energy sources
TYPES OF BIOFERTILIZER
1. For Nitrogen
Rhizobium for legumes crops
Azotobacter/Azospirillum for non legume crops
2. For Phosphorous
Phosphatika for all crops to be applied with
Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and
Acetobacter
3. For enriched compost
Phosphotika and Azotobacter culture
Phospho: It releases insoluble phosphorus in soil
and fix this phosphorus in clay minerals which is
of great significance in agriculture.
Rhizo: Bacterial plays a very important role in
agriculture by inducing nitrogen fixings nodules
on the root of legumes such as peas & alfalfa.
Azotobactor: 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 ecofriendly product. The product is antagonistic
hyper parasitic against different pathogens in the
field and economically well established biocontrol
agent
Composter: Composter breaks down any OM
such as dead plants from yard waste, thereby
increasing the soil productivity.
Tricho-Card: Trichogramma is an efficient
destroyer of eggs of many leaf and flower eaters,
stems, fruit, shoot. It can be used in a variety of
crops such as sugarcane, corn, vegetables, paddy &
apple
Vermi Compost: It is 100% pure eco-friendly
organic fertilizer. Has nitrogen phosphorus,
potassium, organic carbon, sulphur, hormones,
vitamins, enzymes & antibiotics which helps to
improve the quality and quantity of yield.
Biocompost
Eco-friendly organic fertilizer
Prepared from the sugar industry waste
material which is decomposed and enriched
of with various plants and human friendly
bacteria and fungi.
Consists of nitrogen, phosphate solubilizing
bacteria and various useful fungi like
decomposing fungi, trichoderma viridea
which protects the plants from various soil
borne disease
Increase soil fertility which results to a good
quality product to the farmers.
COMPOST
The aerobically decomposed remnants of OM.
Used in landscaping, agriculture as a soil
conditioner & fertilizer.
Useful for erosion control, wetland construction,
and as landfill cover
Compost serves as a growing medium, or a
porous, absorbent material that holds moisture and
soluble minerals, providing the support and
nutrients
To maximize plant growth, it is sometimes
necessary to:
Dilute with soil or peat to reduce salinity or to
add neutralizers (pH closer to 7)
Additional nutrients like fertilizers or manure,
& materials to improve drainage and aeration,
(sand or clay granules).
COMPOST TYPES
There are different ways to compost, starting
with layers of 'brown' and 'green' biodegradable
waste mixed with garden soil.
'Brown' waste - old straw, tough vegetable
stems.
'Green' waste - biodegradable waste that breaks
down faster, such as fruit & cut flowers
There is also Vermicomposting, which uses
worms to help break down the organic waste.
BOKASHI
Bokashi (Japanese for "fermented organic
matter") is a method of intensive composting
Commonly made with only molasses, water,
EM, and wheat bran.
Can be made by inoculating any organic matter
with a variety of hosts of beneficial
bacteria/microbes.
This includes manures, spent mushroom
compost, mushroom spores, forest soil tea,
yeast, pickles, wine & beer.
Molasses feeds the microbial cultures as they
inoculate the organic matter.
INDIGENOUS
MICRORGANISMS
In ecology, an indigenous species is an
organism which is native to a given region
or ecosystem.
Contrast with introduced species
(naturalized or exotic species) which is an
organism that is not indigenous to a given
place, but has been transported there as a
result of human activity.
Lacto bacillus culture
BACKGROUND OF EM
TECHNOLOGY
Developed by Prof. Higa in 1982.
Was used in agriculture & environmental field
Thereafter EM has been used for animal
husbandly, industry human welfare,
education, construction and medical field.
WHAT IS EM?
Complex microorganisms solution.
It contains mainly 3 species such as Lactic
acid Bacteria, Yeast, Phototrophic Bacteria
Collected from food industries and nature.
All microorganisms in EM are non genetic
bacteria.
TYPES OF MICROORGANISM
Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus plantarum; L.
Casei; Streptococcus Lactis.
Photosynthetic bacteria: Rhodopseudomonas
Palustris; Rhodobacter Sphaeroides.
Yeast: Saccharomyces Cerevisiae; Candida Utilis
(usually known as Toula, Pichia Jadinii).
Actinomycetes: Streptomyces Albus; S. Griseus.
Fermenting fungi: Aspergillus oryzae; Mucor
Hiemalis.
Lactic Acid Bacteria
Lactic Acid Bacteria
Yeast
BENEFICIAL INFLUENCES
OF EM IN AGRICULTURE
Promotes germination, flowering, fruiting and
ripening in plants.
Improves physical, chemical and biological
environments of the soil and suppresses soil
borne pathogens and pests.
Enhances the photosynthetic capacity of crops.
Ensures better germination and plant
establishment
Increases the efficacy of OM as fertilizers.
Develops resistance of plants to pests and
diseases