Role of biofertilisers- Role of Biofertlizers in fruit crops

Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly, low cost agricultural inputs that have supplementary role with chemical fertilizers which improves both soil fertility and nutrient availability to the plants

1. THE ROLE OF BIOFERTILISERS IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS Dr. Rayees A Wani, Scientist Fruit Science

2. “ Bio-fertilizers are substances that contain micro-organisms , which when added to the soil increase its fertility and promotes plant growth.”

3. Bio-fertilizers : A potent tool for agriculture Bio-fertilizers are believed to be an important component of integrated nutrient management (INM) which have shown encouraging results in terms of increase in crop yield and income

4. Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly, low cost agricultural inputs that have supplementary role with chemical fertilizers which improves both soil fertility and nutrient availability to the plants

5. On an average, bio-fertilizers add up to 20-30 % increase crop yields

6. It provides a better option to augment the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and maintain soil health and quality of produce.

7. Bio-fertilizers are non-toxic in nature and they don’t have any residual effects unlike chemical fertilizers.

8. They produce phyto -hormones , like auxins (IAA) and gibberellins helpful in promoting root growth and development

9. Major Classification of Bio- fertilisers Nitrogen Azotobacter, Rhizobium , Azospirillum Phosphorous Penicillium sp, Bacillus subtilis Potassium Rhizoctonia solani , Glomus sp

10. - Rhizobium is a genus of bacteria associated with the formation of root nodules on plants. -These bacteria live in symbiosis with legumes. -They take in nitrogen from the atmosphere and pass it on to the plant, allowing it to grow in soil low in nitrogen. Rhizobium

11. - Azolla is a fast growing, free floating fresh water fern having a symbiotic relationship with BGA Anabaena azollae . - It is a potent biofertilizer often grown is shallow water or submerged rice fields in tropical and subtropical climates. Azolla

12. - Azotobacter is a free-living nitrogen fixing aerobic bacteria which is commonly found in neutral to alkaline soils. - It is used for non-leguminous plants especially vegetables ; vegetables respond better to azotobacter compare to other crops as it fixes atmospheric nitrogen and is able to promote plant growth. Azotobacter

13. Azosprillium is a free living, nitrogen fixing bacterium found in the rhizosphere of several grass species which fixes nitrogen in association with the roots of monocots. It fixes 20- 40 kg N per ha in case of cereals, cotton, oilseed and millets. It produces auxins , gibbrellins and cytokinins. Azospirillium

14. - Phosphate Solubilizing Micro Organism (PSM) such as Psuedomonas and Bacillus helps in converting insoluble inorganic phosphate into simple and soluble forms. -These bacteria are useful in utilization of rock phosphate with low content of phosphorus penta oxide. Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria

15. ROLE OF BIOFERTILISERS IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS Effect of biofertilizer on growth character Effective varieties of Azotobacter , Azospirillum , Phosphobacter and Rhizobacter can provide the maximum amount of nitrogen available as a nitrogen cycling . It produce plant hormones, including indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellins (GA) and cytokinins (CK). Improves the performance of photosynthesis to provide plant tolerance to stress and increase pathogen resistance which in turn improves growth of plant.

16. Mango grafts as influenced by biofertilizers Treatments Plant height (cm) at different days 30 60 90 120 150 Un-inoculated control 32.65 38.67 40.33 46.67 47.33 50.13 Azospirillium spp. (AZO) 32.67 47.33 48.33 49.00 50.00 58.20 Phos phorus solubilizing bacteria(PSB) 28.33 42.33 46.33 49.33 56.00 59.60 Pseudomonas flourescens (PF) 31.00 41.67 44.00 49.67 52.00 57.47 Vesicular Arbuscular Mychorrhizae ( VAM) 27.00 34.33 49.67 52.33 54.00 56.27 AZO+PSB+PF 27.67 37.67 49.33 51.00 62.00 63.13 AZO+PSB+VAM 34.33 50.67 51.33 52.67 54.00 57.23 AZO+PF+VAM 34.00 45.00 47.33 56.33 61.00 68.23 AZO+PSB+PF+VAM 26.67 42.00 45.00 57.00 58.67 65.27 S Em ± CD@ 5% 5.50 10.78 7.84 15.37 6.45 12.65 7.29 14.30 9.05 17.74 4.85 9.50 Shankarappa et al . (2018)

17. Kumar et al. (2014) suggested that the effect of AMF and Azospirillum showed highest growth of aonla plant. They also observed highest number of leaves and shoot length in same treatment of aonla plants . They concluded that nutrient availability may be increased by the application of the bio-fertilizers and also enhancing the growth of the plant and improves the fruit quality and fruit size .

18. The use of bio-fertilizer in the soil increases biodiversity that makes up all kinds of beneficial bacteria and fungi including arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) called plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and nitrogen fixers. There are many small organisms that thrive in the soil, especially in the rhizosphere of a plant. A large number of these microorganisms have active relationships and form a complete system with plants. They have beneficial effects on plant yield. Effect of bio-fertilizers on yield

19. Das et al. (2017) stated that the combination of two bio-fertilizers i.e Azospirillum brasilense + Arbuscular mycorhizal showed the highest fruit retention and fruit yield i.e. 41.3 kg per plant along with highest fruit size (cm), fruit weight (g) and pulp weight (g) in guava plant. They also concluded that the application Azospirillum brasilense alongwith AMF also gave the highest yield in the guava growers.

20. Azotobacter and Azospirillium are free living bacteria that congregate near the root zone and enhance the nitrogen found in the soil by N modification, whereas Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) dissolve insoluble phosphorus in the soil and make it available to plants. Vesicular- Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) helps to build: - strong root system, - increase root zone, - improve growth, nutrient uptake and - increase root tolerance for soil-borne pathogens which improves the soil production. Effect of bio-fertilizers on soil character

21. Application of biofertilizer increases the availability of soil minerals; soil microbial biomass and respiration. Leaf nutrient concentration varies during growth and the use of bio-fertilizer increases potassium, phosphorus and zinc concentrations in mature leaves. Its application reduces total soluble solids and boron concentration, without affecting the firmness of the fruit. It has a positive effect on the mineral N-dynamics and the microflora of the soil, converting the nutrient content in the leaves. It quality by increasing biomass roots; root facilitate higher absorption of nutrients and increase yields by reducing the use of natural energy resources and ultimately improves fruit quality. Effect of bio-fertilizers on quality parameters

22. Singh et al. (2000) suggested that the effect of combination treatment of % P + VAM + N was found to be best treatment for producing maximum growth and yield of high quality fruit in Mosambi .

23. Constraints in Bio-fertilizer Production and Adoption There are several constraints i.e. technological, environmental, infrastructural, financial, unawareness, marketing etc. which limits the production and application of this technology to farmer’s field at larger scale. Lack of efficient strains resulting in use of native, ineffective strains used for production. Shorter shelf-life of inoculants. e.g. Azolla can’t withstand desiccation hence it is difficult to transport long distance.

24. Lack of technical know-how and the production units. Soil characteristics like acidity, salinity etc. affects the growth and multiplication rate of microorganisms. As fungi performs better in acid soils while bacteria in neutral to alkaline soils. Lack of suitable carrier (medium in which rhizobium are allowed to multiply) and high sensitivity to temperature variation. Lack of awareness regarding its production, methods of inoculation and advantages.

25. CONCLUSION There was a time when the sole aim was to improve the productivity of horticultural crops in our country and to achieve this low cost inorganic fertilizers were used without considering their ill effects on soil fertility, health hazards, environment pollution etc. Now that self sufficiency has been achieved the focus has shifted to conservation of ecology by following cultural practices which involves no harm to the environment. Overall bio-fertilizers play an important role in sustainable agriculture. Although, use of bio-fertilizer is not common amongst the farmers. But the knowledge about the benefits of bio-fertilizers will make the farmers to adopt the sustainable way of increasing the productivity and farm income.

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