Biofertilizers

An input less exploited

prof. dr. Idham Ali Abed / collage of Agriculture / Univesity of Anbar

Types of BiofertilizersBiofertilizers

covered under FCO

Other Biofertilizers not covered

in FCO

Rhizobium

Azotobacter

Azospirillum

PSB

Mycorrhiza

Acetobacter

Fraturia aurantia

Pseudomonas as PGPR

Mixed cultures

Effective microorganisms

Advantages of Biofertilizer Use

N-Biofertilizers can provide 25-30% of chemical fertilizer

equivalent N

PSB biofertilizer can provide 12-20 kg P2O5/ha/season

Mycorrhiza can provide adequate, P, other micro nutrients

and help in increased water absorption

Mixed biofertilizer give better impact

Keep soils biologically active

Help in soil health maintenance

Economics of biofertilizer use (Liquid)

Biofertilizer/ crop Quantity

required

lit/ha

Cost of

application

(Rs/ha)

Amount of nutrient

mobilized kg/ha

Rhizobium in legumes 0.2-1.0 lit 40 - 200 25 – 35 kg N

Azotobacter/

Azospirillum in non-

legumes

0.5 – 2.0 lit 80 - 400 20 - 25 kg N

Azoto+Azosp+PSB 0.5 – 2.0 lit 80 - 400 20 kg N + 12 kg P

Mixed inoculants 0.5 – 2.0 lit 80 - 400 25 kg N +15 kg P

Mycorrhiza 2.00 – 5.00

kg

200-500 20-25 kg P +

micronutrients+

moisture

Quality Specifications under FCO(i) Base Carrier based* in form of moist/dry

powder or granules, or liquid based

(ii) Viable cell count CFU minimum 5x107 cell/g of powder,

granules or carrier material or 1x108

cell/ml of liquid.

(iii) Contamination level No contamination at 105 dilution

(iv) pH 6.5-7.5

(v) Particles size in case of carrier

based material.

All material shall pass through 0.15-

0.212mm IS sieve

(vi) Moisture percent by weight,

maximum in case of carrier

based.

30-40%

Efficiency Requirement for Strains usedS.

No.

Parameter Specification requirement

(vii) Efficiency character

a.For Rhizobium

b.For Azotobacter

c.For Azospirillum

a.For PSB

Should show effective nodulation on all the species

listed on the packet.

The strain should be capable of fixing at least 10 mg

of nitrogen per g of sucrose consumed

Formation of white pellicle in semisolid N-free

bromothymol blue media

The strain should have phosphate solubilizing

capacity in the range of minimum 30%, when tested

spectrophotometrically. In terms of zone formation,

minimum 5mm solubilization zone in prescribed

media having at least 3mm thickness

Specifications for Mycorrhizai. Form/base Fine Powder/ tablets/ granules/ root

biomass mixed with growingsubstrate

ii. Particle size for carrierbased powder formulations

90% should pass through 250micron IS sieve (60 BSS)

iii. Moisture content percentmaximum

8 -12

iv. pH 6.0 to 7.5

v. Total viable propagules/ gmof product, minimum

100 /gm of finished product

V. Infectivity potential 80 infection points in test roots/gmof mycorrhizal inoculum used

Quality control Issues for

other Microbial formulations Studies are being made to define minimum

standards and testing protocols for all biological

and organic inputs at NCOF

5 biofertilizers and 3 organic fertilizers covered

under FCO

Efforts are under way to define standards and

quality methods for Trichoderma, Pseudomonas,

Mixed cultures, KMB and EM

Production Scenario

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000

2010-11

2009-09

2008-09

2007-08

2006-07

2005-06

Mycorrhiza, 2600, 7%

PSB, 18800, 50%

Azospirillum, 6100, 16%

Azotobacter, 4200, 11%

Rhizobium, 4560, 12%

Others, 1700, 4%

Share of different biofertilizers to total production (2010-11)

North, 2486, 7%

South, 20660, 54%

East, 887, 2%

West, 12960, 34%

North East, 1003,

3%

Fig. 2 Production of Biofertilizers in different regions of the country

Important Biofertilizer

Producing States

6930

3257

8691

6318

2455

2925

1000

1217

Uttar Pradesh

Karnataka

Kerala

Tamil Nadu

Andhra Pradesh

Maharashtra

Madhya

Pradesh

Gujarat

Above Six states account for 86% of total

Biofertilizer production in the country

Production Technology Biofertilizer

Carrier based Liquid basedAdvantages

•Cheap

•Easier to produce

•Less investment

Disadvantages

•Low shelf life

•Temperature sensitive

•Contamination prone

•Low cell count

•Less effective

•Automation difficult

Advantages

•Longer shelf life

•Easier to produce

•Temperature tolerant

•High cell count

•Contamination free

•More effective

Disadvantages

•High cost

•Higher investment for

production unit

Poor Acceptability

Poor Acceptability among farmers may be

attributed to:

a.Inconsistent responses

b.Poor quality of carrier based products

c.Sensitivity to temperature and short shelf life

d.Non-compatibility with chemical seed dressers/

fertilizers

e.Poor organic carbon in soils

f. Dependence for supply on Government system

Corrective measures needed at

production stagePoor quality unsterile carrier is biggest constraint

Replace lignite/ charcoal with other carriers having high

moisture potential

Such as Exfoliated vermiculite, ppt grade silica, Quartz or

inert mineral powder enriched with synthetic water

holding gels.

All carriers must be sterilized and

Product handling process must be automatic

Product must be free from contamination

Liquid Biofertilizers

Ideal SolutionEfforts needed to replace existing carrier based system

to liquid system as it is:

a.Easier to produce

b.100% automation possible

c.Product can be 100% sterile

d.Offer higher shelf life, higher cell count

e.Temperature tolerant

f. Easy to apply through mechanical means

Under Network Project on Biofertilizers, ICAR has launched liquid

formulations. Details available from NCOF/ICAR

Need for State-of-the-Art

Production units Certificate of manufacture to be granted only to the

competent units

Having fully automatic product handling and packaging

system

Carrier sterilization facility

Liquid production units with fully automatic operation be

preferred

Small units with manual production systems and small

fermenters/shake flask are not successful

Corrective measures Needed In

ApplicationEfficiency of biofertilizers depend on organic

carbon in soil

a.Use both as seed treatment and soil treatment

b.For soil treatment mix with compost

c.PSB to be used as soil treatment with compost

d.Mixed application of biofertilizers to be promoted

Introduction of Mixed Inoculants

Use of multiple incoulants have proved beneficial

over single inoculants

Many producers have launched mixed liquid

inoculants having Azotobacter, Azospirillum and

PSB.

NCOF has found them suitable with individual

count of 1x107 and total count > 5x 108

States can promote use of mixed inoculants

Under Network Project on Biofertilizers, ICAR has launched liquid

formulations for such mixed inoculants. Details available from

NCOF/ICAR

Encourage Direct supply to

farmers Majority of the biofertilizer is being routed

through Government agencies which needs to be

discontinued

Encourage producers to develop direct

marketing channels and supply to farmers

directly.

Subsidy can be provided on the lines of chemical

fertilizers to the manufacturers or to the farmers

directly.

Financial Support Adequate financial support is available under

most of the schemes both for capital investment

and supply of produce

Subsidy at 25% of TFO up to Rs. 40 lakh

available through Banks/NABARD under NPOF

States can also avail assistance under RKVY

North and Eastern state

Need to Give Attention Southern states have successfully harvested the potential

of biofertilizers.

States of Maharashtra and MP have also fared well

But other states are legging behind

PSB is the most potential biofertilizer and needs to be promoted on priority

PSB strains are not affected by high fertilizer doses

Punjab, Haryana and UP to chalk out specific strategies

7

2

3

34

54

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

North

East

North East

West

South

Need to Harvest growing

fixed nutrient reserve Out of total P, K and micronutrients, 70% gets

fixed and remain in soil

Reserve is increasing

Microbial enrichment of soil is only option

Therefore multiple microorganism cultures need

to be provided

PSB, KMB, EM and ZnSB application is to

resorted on regular basis

Mycorrhiza

a potential biofertilizer Mycorrhiza a potential biofertilizer mobilizes P, Fe,

Zn, B and other trace elements

Also supplies moisture from far-off niches

Ideal for long duration crops

Such as Sugarcane, fruit plants and plantation crops

Found to be effective in cereals and millet crops also

Being dry powder resistant to contamination and can

be stored up to 2 years.

Other BiofertilizersIndustry has launched many new biofertilizers. They have been found to

be effective and needs to be promoted

Acetobacter diazotrophicus – Endophytic N-fixer in sugarcane

K-mobilizer (Fraturia and Bacillus sp)

Zn- solubilizer (Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Thiobacillus)

EM- Effective microorganisms – a mixture of Yeasts, Lactobacillus and

Rhodopseudomonas. Excellent for quick residue degradation and fixed

nutrient solubilization

Use Biofertilizers

For Healthy and living soil