BIOFERTILIZERS USES AND ITS BENEFITS TO ENVIRONMENT .pptx

Biofertilizers are used to mobile nutrients present in the environment to available forms to the plants.

1. BIOFERTILIZERS Mr. Venkatraj EKV Research Scholar Department of Horticulutre Faculty of Agriculture Annamalai University Mobile: [phone]

2. What is biofertilizers? Microbial inoculation of bacteria, algae, and fungi (separately or in combination) It may help biological nitrogen fixation for the benefit of plants. Building the soil microflora and soil health It also includes Organic manures (manures etc.,) Improves soil fertility

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOFERTILIZERS They Are Reasonable And Nature-Friendly Fertilizers Which Contain Microbial Inoculants Of Algae, Fungi, And Bacteria Either Alone Or In Combination. Highly Suggested For Improving Soil Fertility And Health. They Are Easily Applicable And Do Not Require Any Extra Proficiency. They Require Less Quantity In Comparison To Synthetic Fertilizers. They Help In Enrichment Of Soil Through Micro- Flora Build Up

4. Types of biofertilizers Bacteria Algae Fungi Aquatic ferns

5. BACTERIA Symbiotic nitrogen fixers -> Rhizobium, Azospirillum spp. Asymbiotic living fixers -> Azotobacter, Klebsiella etc.,

6. Rhizobium Lives in root hairs of legumes by forming nodules Plant roots supply essential minerals to the bacteria Slow-growing rhizobium – Bradyrhizobia Fast-growing rhizobia – Rhizobia It fixes 50-300 kg of N / ha

7. Azospirillum Mainly present in cereal plants Inhabits in roots as well as surrounding roots Forming a symbiotic relationship and increasing the nitrogen-fixing potential of cereals. Dominant soil microbes It can fix 20-40 kg N / ha

8. Azotobactor Free living nitrogen-fixing bacteria Present in alkaline and neutral soils Apart from its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soils, it can also synthesize growth-promoting substances such as auxins and gibberellins.

9. Exhibit fungicidal properties against certain species of fungus. It has been seen in rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, pearl millet, and vegetables. Improves seed germination and plant growth Requires large amounts of carbon for its growth .

10. ALGAE Blue-green algae (association with Azolla) Anabena , Nostoc, Ocillatoria

11. Blue-Green Algae Blue-green algae, also known as  cyanobacteria , are a group of microscopic, photosynthetic bacteria found in various water bodies. More than 100 sp of BGA can fix atmospheric Nitrogen Very common in rice field BGA are inhibited by chemical fertilizers.

12. Inoculation of BGA can result in a 10 – 14% increase in yield (without chemical fertilizers) Easy to produce Mass produced in cement tanks filled with fresh water. Not require any further processing

13. Azolla ( Anabena azollae ) Tiny freshwater fern (commonly found in ponds, ditches, and rice fields). Biofertilizer for rice in all major rice-growing countries including India, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Brazil, and West Africa.

14. Nitrogen fixation is accomplished by the symbiotic relationship between the fern and BGA. It also provides K, P, Zn, and Fe to the crop Its biomass gets doubled within 5-7 days (vegetative methods) Fix 40-80 kg N / ha/year

15. 15-20% yield increased when fertilizing the rice with Azolla Hybrids -> fast-growing Tolerant to heat and cold Fix 4-5% more Nitrogen

16. Uses Provide a cheap source of nitrogen for paddy plants. Enhance soil fertility and soil texture Symbiotic relationship with plants

17. PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA Pseudomonas, Bacillus megaterium

18. PSB can convert immobilized P from soils, animal, and plant residues ( e.g., insoluble inorganic P and organic P ) into available P for plant uptake. PSB releases low molecular weight organic acids, which chelate cations bound to phosphate, converting it into soluble forms.

19. FUNGI Eg ; Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza ( VAM)

20. VAM VAM is an endotrophic mycorrhiza formed by aseptate phycomycetous fungi. It helps in nutrient transfer mainly of phosphorous, zinc, and sulfur. Great role in inducing plant growth It retains soil moisture around the root zone of the plants.

21. It increases resistance against root-borne or soil-borne pathogens and nematodes Mobilizes different nutrients like Cu, K, Al, Mn, Fe, and Mg from soil to the plant roots They possess vesicles (sac-like structures) for storage of nutrients and arbuscular for funneling them into roots.

22. Uses of VAM Enhances feeding area of the roots as they spread around the roots Mobilizes the nutrients from distance to root Stores the nutrients Removes toxic chemicals from soil Protect against fungi and nematodes It increases the growth rate of plants Reduces the sensitivity of crops towards high levels of salts and heavy soils

23. COMPOST Decomposing, brittle, murky material forming a symbiotic food web within the soil, which contains about 2% (w/w) of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with microorganisms, earthworms, and dung beetles. Microbial organic solid residue oxidation causes the formation of humus , which can be used as an organic fertilizer that sufficiently aerates, aggregates, buffers, and keeps the soil moist, besides providing beneficial minerals to the crops and increasing soil microbial diversity. Compost is produced from a wide variety of materials like straw, leaves, cattle-shed bedding, fruit and vegetable wastes, biogas plant slurry, industrial wastes, city garbage, sewage sludge, factory waste, etc.

24. The compost is formed from these materials by different decomposing microorganisms like Trichoderma viridae , Aspergillus niger , A. terreus , Bacillus spp., several Gram-negative bacteria ( Pseudomonas, Serratia, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter ), etc. that have plant cell wall-degrading cellulolytic or lignolytic and other activities, besides having proteolytic activity and antibiosis (by production of antibiotics) that suppresses other parasitic or pathogenic microorganisms.

25. V ermicompost contains earthworm cocoons, excreta, microorganisms (like bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi), and different organic matters , which provide nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and several micronutrients, and efficiently recycles animal wastes, agricultural residues, and industrial wastes cost-effectively and uses low energy.

26. D UST FORM OF BIOFERTILIZER Seed treatment: Seed treatment is a very effective, economical, and most common method implemented for all types of bacterial inoculants. The seeds are mixed and uniformly coated in a slurry (inoculant mixed with 200 mL of rice kanji or 1% jaggery) and then shade-dried, before being sown within 24 h. Coating of lime after rhizobia inoculant treatment enhances the efficacy.

27. Seedling root dipping: This application is common for plantation crops such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, trees, sugarcane, cotton, grapes, banana, and tobacco where seedling roots are dipped in a water suspension of biofertilizer (nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter or Azospirillum and phosphorus-solubilizing microbial biofertilizer) for sufficient time. Soil application: Applied directly to the soil either alone or in combination. Eg : are Rhizobium (for leguminous plants or trees) and Azotobacter (for tea, coffee, rubber, coconuts, all fruit/agroforestry plants), BGA and Azolla in rice fields, mycorrhiza in nursery beds.

28. LIQUID BIOFERTILIZER APPLICATION METHODOLOGY Seed treatment Seed treatment is the most common method adopted for all types of inoculants. The seed treatment is effective and economical. For small quantities of seeds (up to 5 kg), the coating can be done in a plastic bag. For this purpose, a plastic bag sized 21” x 10” or larger can be used. The bag should be filled with 2 kg or more of seeds. The bag should be closed in such a way as to trap the air as much as possible. The bag should be squeezed for 2 minutes or more until all the seeds are uniformly wetted. Then the bag is opened, inflated again, and shaken gently. The shaking can stop after each seed gets a uniform layer of culture coating. The bag is opened and the seeds are dried in the shade for 20–30 minutes.

29. Root dipping Used for application of Azospirillum / PSM on paddy transplanting/ vegetable crops. Azospirillum /PSM has to be mixed with 5–10 liters of water at one corner of the field and the roots of seedlings have to be dipped for a minimum of half an hour before transplantation. Soil application Use 200ml of PSM per acre . Mix PSM with 400 to 600 kgs of cow dung FYM (farmyard manure) along with ½ bag of rock phosphate if available. The mixture of PSM, cow dung, and rock phosphate has to be kept under any tree or in the shade overnight and 50% moisture should be maintained. The mixture is used for soil application in rows or during leveling of soil.

30. PRECAUTIONS BEFORE BIOFERTILIZER APPLICATION Stored in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and heat . Right combinations of biofertilizers have to be used. O ne should use it for the specified crop only. Other chemicals should not be mixed with the biofertilizers. Ensure that each packet is provided with all necessary information like the name of the product, name of the crop, name and address of the manufacturer, date of manufacture, date of expiry, batch number, and instructions for use. Used before its expiry, only for the specified crop and by the recommended method of application. Biofertilizers are live products and require care in their storage . Biofertilizers are not a replacement for fertilizers but can supplement plant nutrient requirements.

31. ROLE OF BIOFERTILIZERS IN AGRICULTURE Biofertilizers supplement synthetic fertilizers and fulfill the nutrient requirement of crops. Bio-fertilizers add 20-180 kg N/ha in soil and enhance crop production and nutrient use efficiency in a particular optimum environment. They efficiently reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and create chemical-free yield. Application of bio-fertilizers results in improved nutrient and water uptake, soil quality, rhizosphere development, etc. These bio-fertilizers promote the growth of plants through the release of growth-simulating substances. These bio-fertilizers include a variety of micro-organisms that successfully reduce harmful pathogens resulting in various diseases and thus control many diseases. Bio-fertilizers improve soil fertility, physical properties of soil, tilth, and crop- productivity.

32. FACTORS AFFECTING BIO-FERTILIZER RESPONSE Efficiency of any inoculant and micro-organisms to be determined by the host plant and genotype. Quality of inoculant largely influences its results in terms of nitrogen fixation and solubilization of particular nutrients. Package of practices and management of crop alter results of bio-fertilizers. Soil physical and chemical properties highly influence the impact of different inoculants and micro-organisms. Climatic conditions like temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and photoperiod affect response of biofertilizers significantly .

33. CONSTRAINTS IN BIO-FERTILIZER APPLICATION There is a lack of good quality of strain which efficiently provides required nutrients in soil. Non- existence of storage facilities makes it difficult to adopt bio-fertilizers. Field conditions like extremely high or low pH, temperature, nutrient deficiency not only influence the response of inoculants but also limits heir benefits