Vol. 8(24), pp. 2332-2342, 11 June, 2014
DOI: 10.5897/AJMR2013.6374
Article Number: 0444FCA45320
ISSN 1996-0808 African Journal of Microbiology Research
Copyright © 2014
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJMR

Review

Biofertilizer, a way towards organic agriculture:

A review
Ritika Bhattacharjee* and Utpal Dey
Department of Plant Pathology, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani - 431 402, Maharashtra,
India.
Received 20 September, 2013; Accepted 19 May, 2014

Fertilizers supply essential plant nutrients, mainly nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and phosphorous (P).
These fertilizers increase the yield of the crop but they cause several health hazard. Due to the several
health hazard, consumer preferences shift towards the use of the organic food grown without use of any
chemical. In recent years, biofertilizers have emerged as an important component for biological nitrogen
fixation. They offer an economically attractive and ecologically sound route for providing nutrient to the
plant. Biofertilizers are low-cost renewable source of nutrient that supplements the chemical fertilizer.
Biofertilizers gained importance due to its low cost amongst small and marginal farmer.

Key words: Biofertilizer, isolation, mass multiplication, N2 fixers, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR),
organic agriculture.

INTRODUCTION

The term biofertilizer, represent everything from manures bacteria, nitrogen fixing bacteria, fungi of Trichoderma
to plant extracts. “Biofertilizers” are those substances that and yeast. Biofertilizers have shown great potential as a,
contain living microorganisms and they colonize the renewable and environmental friendly source of plant
rhizosphere of the plant and increase the supply or nutrient. Biofertilizers are ready to use and used as a live
availability of primary nutrient and/or growth stimulus to formulation of beneficial microorganisms, when it
the target crop. There are numerous species of soil amended to seed, root or soil, it mobilizes the availability
bacteria that colonize mainly in the rhizosphere of plants. and utility of the microorganisms and thus improves the
These bacteria are collectively known as plant growth soil health. In general, bio-fertilizers are microbial
promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Some PGPR promote preparations containing living cells of different
the growth by acting as biofertilizer. Microorganisms microorganisms which have the ability to mobilize plant
mainly nitrogen fixer, phosphate solubilizer and nutrients in soil from unusable to usable form through
mycorrhizae are the main sources of biofertilizer. The biological process. Bio-fertilizers are used in live
microorganisms used for the biofertilizer are bacteria of formulation of beneficial microorganism which on
Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, photosynthetic application to seed, root or soil, mobilize the availability of

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ritu45880@gmail.com.

Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
International License
 Bhattacharjee and Dey 2333

Table 1. Carriers.

Form Liquid Powder Granular

Appearance Without strange smell Brown Brown
Fast-growing Rhizobium >0.5 x 109/ml >0.1 x 109/g >0.1 x 109/g
Slow-growing Rhizobium >1.0 x 109/ml >0.2 x 109/g >0.1 x 109/g
N fixing bacteria >0.5 x 109/ml >0.1 x 109/g >0.1 x 109/g
Si bacteria >1.0 x 109/ml >0.2 x 109/g >0.1 x 109/g
9
Organic P >0.5 x 10 /ml >0.1 x 109/g >0.1 x 109/g
In organic P >1.5 x 109/ml >0.3 x 109/g >0.2 x 109/g
Multi-strain bio-fertilizer >1.0 x 109/ml >0.2 x 109/g >0.1 x 109/g

nutrients particularly by their biological activity and help to and kept in saline for 5 min. With a forceps, root was
build up the lost microflora and in turn improve the soil immersed to a semisolid Bromothymol blue medium broth
health in general (Ismail et al., 2014). Their mode of containing 0.8% agar in a test tube and incubated at 20
action differs and can be used alone or in combination. to 25°C for at least a week. A loopful of culture adjacent
For easy application, biofertilizers are packed in suitable to the root in the broth was transferred to bromothymol
carrier such as lignite or peat. Carrier also plays an blue media plates. The culture was incubated at 20 to
important role in maintaining sufficient shelf life (Singh et 25°C for at least a week.
al., 1999).
Rhizobium is the most studied and important genera of
nitrogen fixing bacteria (Odame, 1997). Azospirillum spp. Isolation of phospho bacteria from the rhizoids
contribute to increased yields of cereal and forage 1. Soil samples: They are collected from the different
grasses by improving root development in properly agricultural land.
colonized roots, increasing the rate of water and mineral 2. Serial dilution method: 10 g of soil sample is dissolved
uptake from the soil, and by biological nitrogen fixation in the 100 ml of distilled water and the sample is mixed
(Okon, 1985). Biofertilizers have shown great potential as well, and by dilution making the sample101. Then the soil
supplementary, renewable and environmental friendly sample in sterilized water is serially diluted up to 107
sources of plant nutrients and are an important dilution. Then 105, 106, 107 dilution is taken into spread
component of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and plate technique.
Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) (Raghuwanshi, 3. Spread plate technique: Nutrient agar are poured in to
2012). Naturally grown biofertilizers not only give a better the plate, after solidification of medium 0.1 ml of medium
yield, but are also harmless to humans and lead to better are poured into the agar medium plate, then they are
sustainable economic development for the farmers and incubated at 37°C for 24 h.
their country (Mishra and Dash, 2014).

Carriers
ISOLATION TECHNIQUES
Carriers (Table 1) increase the effectiveness of the
Isolation technique for Rhizobium spp. biofertilizer. It enables easy handling and increases the
storage or shelf life. Carriers which are used for making
Intact root nodules from a healthy Sysbania exaltata plant solid type of biofertilizer products are clay mineral,
were selected. One of the pink juvenile root nodule was diatomaceous soil, and white carbon as mineral; rice,
selected and transferred to a drop of sterile water in a wheat bran, peat, lignite, peat soil, humus, wood charcoal
Petri dish. The nodule in the drop of water was crushed in and discarded feed as organic matter. However, clay
between two glass slides causing the release of nitrogen mineral and rice bran are most often used as carriers. To
fixing Rhizobium bacteria into the drop of sterile water. achieve the tight coating of inoculant on seed surface,
The smear of the crushed root nodule was streaked onto use of adhesive, such as gum arabic,
yeast extract mannitol agar (YEMA) plate with 1% Congo methylethylcellulose and vegetable oil is also available.
red dye. The culture was then incubated at 20 to 25°C for
three days (Boraste, 2009). MASS PRODUCTION OF BIOFERTILIZERS (FIGURE
1)
Isolation technique for Azospirillium spp. Criteria for strain selection

Juvenile root from a healthy sugar cane plant was taken Efficient nitrogen fixing strains is selected and then
2334 Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

Isolation of microbes from the soil

↑↓
Laboratory screening of microbes for plant growth
↑↓

Greenhouse screening of microbes to promote growth in potted soil

↑↓
Field screening of most effective microbes in cropped soil
(Crop variety and different soil types examined)
↑↓
Refinement of inoculum

↑↓
Production of biofertilizer
Figure 1. Production of biofertilizers.

multiplied on the nutritutionally rich artificial medium the information eg. name of the product, leguminous crop
before inoculating in the seed and soil. for which intended, name and address of the
manufacturer, type of carrier, batch or manufacture no,
expiry date. Each packet should also be marked with the
Culturing in the flask containing broth ISI mark. The biofertilizer should be stored in the cool
place and keep away from direct heat.
The isolated strain is inoculated in the small flasks
containing suitable medium for inoculums production.
Now, the carrier was autoclaved at 15 psi at 121°C for 20 Types of biofertilizer (Table 2) available
min. The culture broth was mixed with the carrier at 30%,
that is, for 1 kg carrier; 300 ml of culture broth was used. 1. Nitrogen fixing biofertilizer: Rhizobium, Azotobacter,
The mixture was spread on a plastic sheet in a closed Azospirillum, Bradyrhizobium.
room for air drying. The biofertilizer was packed in sterile 2. Phosphorus solubilising biofertilizer (PSB): Bacillus,
plastic air tight bags and stored. For large scale Pseudomonas, Aspergillus.
production of inoculums, culture fermenters are used. 3. Phosphorus mobilizing biofertilizer: Mycorrhiza (Plate
1).
4. Plant growth promoting biofertilizer: Pseudomonas.
Quality control

Like every product, the biofertilizers should also follow Mode of action of biofertilizer
some standards. The inoculants should be carrier based,
and it should contain 108 viable cells per gram of carrier They fix nitrogen in the soil and the root nodules of the
on dry mass basis within 15 days of manufacture. The legumes crop and make it available to the plant. They
inoculums should have a maximum expiry period of 12 solubilise the insoluble form of the phosphate like
month from the date of manufacture. The inoculants tricalcium, iron and aluminium phosphate into the
should not have any contaminant. The contaminant is available form. They produce hormones and anti
one of the biggest problems faced by the biofertilizers metabolites which promote root growth. They also
industry. The pH of the inoculant should be 6.0-7.5. Each decompose the organic matter. When biofertilizers are
packet containing the biofertilizer should be marked with applied to the seed and the soil they increases the
 Bhattacharjee and Dey 2335

Table 2. Different types of biofertilizers.

Biofertilizer Microorganism
Azolla pinnata, Rhizobium spp., Azotobacter
chroococcum,
Nitrogen fixers
Azospirillum lipoferum, Acetobacter
diazotrophicus, Derxia gummosa

Bacillus circulans, Bacillus coagulans,

Torulospora globasa,
Pseudomonas fluorescens (siderophore),
Phosphate solubilizers
Thiobacillus (SOM),
Aspergillus niger (avirulent), Trichoderma sp.,
Paecilomyces sp

Potash mobilizers Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp.

Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus spp., Rhizobium

Zinc mobilizer
spp.

containing tricalcium, iron and aluminium phosphate,

hydroxy apatite, bonemeal, rock phosphate and some
insoluble phosphate compound. The most efficient PSM
belong to the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas among
bacteria and Aspergillus and Penicillum amongst fungi
(Gaur, 1990). Several varieties of PSM have been
isolated from the rhizospheric soil of the crop. Majority of
bacterial organisms are known to solubilize phosphate.
These bacteria and fungi are used as a biofertilizer. Their
application in several crop tend to increase their yield in
crop such as cereals, legume, vegetable, fruit crops
(Kundu et al., 2009). Phosphate solubilising
microorganisms release metabolite such as organic acid
latter being converted into the soluble form (Nahas,
1996). Phosphate solubilising microorganisms dissolve
soil P through production of low molecular weight organic
compound mainly gluconic and ketogluconic acid (Khan
et al., 2009).
Plate 1. Mycorrhizae (Peters, 2002).

Low cost medium preparation for PSB

availability of the nutrient to the plant and increases the Alternative for King’s B broth (Pseudomonas spp.); 1.
yield up to 10-20% without producing any adverse effect Fish extract, 10 ml; 2, Algal water, 25 ml; 3, Aloe vera
to the environment. Therefore, significantly increase the extract, 5 ml; 4, Tap water, 100 ml; 5, pH, 7.2.
plant growth parameters viz., plant height, number of The broth was prepared, inoculated with P. flourescens
branches, number of roots, root length, shoot length, dry and incubated at 27°C for 24 h on rotary shaker.
matter accumulation in plant organs and vigour index etc.
(Ezz El-Din and Hendawy, 2010; Ateia et al., 2009;
Mahmoud, 2009; Leithy et al., 2009; Gharib et al., 2008; Uses of PSB
Ismail et al., 2014).
PSB can be used for all the crops including paddy,
millets, oilseeds, pulses and vegetable.
Phosphorus producing biofertilizer
Method of application of PSB
Phosphate solubilising microorganisms include several
bacteria and fungi which can grow in the medium 1. Seed treatment: 10 kg of normal size seeds of lentil,
2336 Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

role in cell division, cell development, photosynthesis,

breakage of sugar, nuclear transport within the plant.
Nowadays, phosphorus is a non-renewable and costly
input, and these phosphate fertilizers also have pollution
problems associated with them. Mycorrhizal fungi (Plate
1) can utilize phosphorus from extremely low
concentration. Mycorrhiza based biofertilizer technology
is one of such successful technology capable of
wasteland reclamation and beneficial in agriculture
because it provides phosphorus nutrition to the plant.
Mycorrhizae also benefit plants indirectly by enhancing
the structure of the soil (Mahdi et al., 2010). AM hyphae
excrete gluey, sugar-based compounds called Glomalin,
which helps to bind soil particles, and make stable soil
aggregates (Peters, 2002).

Marketable product of mycorrhizal fungi

Plate 2. VAMRI. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Root Inoculant (VAMRI)

is a chopped dried corn roots infected with arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungus, either Glomus mosseae or Glomus
fasciculatum. VAMRI serves as bio-fertilizers and bio-
control agents of soil-borne diseases of different crops
under various conditions. They show a degree of
resistance or tolerance against soil-borne pathogens like
nematodes, bacteria and fungi. VAMRI can substantially
reduce or substitute the chemical fertilizer and pesticide
requirements of crops. This inoculant can be used for
pepper, eggplant, tomato, papaya, banana, pineapple,
watermelon, onion, corn, sugarcane, peanut, fruit
crops/trees and ornamental plants.

Application

VAMRI (Plate 2) can be applied by seed pelleting or

coating for direct seeding crops, by mixing with the
sowing medium .VAMRI can replace 50-100% of
chemical fertilizers.
Brown magic is a mycorrhizal fungal inoculant that can
Plate 3. Brown magic.
be utilized as biological fertilizer and bio-control agent of
root diseases of orchids. This fungus was selected from
200 isolates composed of sclerotium or fruiting bodies of
mung, berseem treated with 200 g of PSB. Large size fungi and mycelia collected and isolated from orchid
seeds like groundnut, chickpea, soyabean require 400- roots.
600 g inoculants for 10-12 kg seeds.
2. Seedling dip: This method is useful for the transplanted
seedling and also useful for the vegetable crop. Inoculant Application of brown magic (Plate 3)
suspensions are prepared in 1:10 ratio. Dipping the root
of the seedlings in this suspension for 5 min. It increases the growth and survival of in vitro cultured
3. Soil application: 3-5 kg of inoculants is mixed with the orchid and it also increases the tolerance and resistance
50 kg of farm yard manure (FYM). of plants to pathogens and diseases; induces early
Phosphorus deficiency is one of the major limiting flowering and enhances the production of more suckers
factors in crop growth and nitrogen fixation in the tropical and longer spikes. This inoculant is environment-friendly,
regions. Phosphorus requirement is next to the nitrogen. economical and easy to use. This inoculant is available at
It makes up 0.2% of the body weight. It plays an important BIOTECH Sales office at UPLB.
 Bhattacharjee and Dey 2337

A.pinnata  A .nilotica  A .microphylla 

Plate 4. Different types of Azolla spp. (Pabby et al., 2004).

Application of mycorrhizae as nitrogen-biofertilizer increase the growth and yield of

various crops under field conditions (Table 3). These
Endomycorrhizae should be applied at a rate of bacteria develop in close-legume symbiosis which is one
3,600,000 propagules per Mycorrhizae via hand seeding, of the most efficient fixing relationships with the roots of
seed drilling, hydroseeding, broadcast and till, planting, or various wild plants (Doroshenko and Rawia, 2007; Rawia
as a nursery medium. et al., 2009).

Facultative endophytic diazotroph (Azospirillum) Algal biofertilizers (N fixers)

Azospirillum belongs to family Spirilaceae. It is Azolla spp.

heterotrophic and associative in nature. It has also an
It is a diazotrophic symbiont, it is well known for its
ability to fix nitrogen of about 20-40 kg/ha, they also
utilization as a nitrogen fertilizer. Azolla spp. (Plate 4)
produce growth regulating substances. The different
float in water in large number and in soils where there is
species of Azospirillum are Azospirillum amazonense,
appropriate number of fern species. These are mostly
Azospirillum halopraeferens, Azospirillum brasilense. The
found in the tropical and temperate ecosystems. There is
Azospirillum form associative symbiosis with many plants
a symbiotic association between Azolla and a
particularly with those having the C4-dicarboxyliac path
cyanobacteria Anabaena. The host Azolla provide carbon
way of photosynthesis (Hatch and Slack pathway),
source to the anabaena while its nitrogen requirement is
because they grow and fix nitrogen on salts of organic
fulfil by atmospheric nitrogen fixation by Cyanobacteria. It
acids such as malic, aspartic acid (Arun, 2007). It is
has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through
mainly used for some recommended crops like maize,
bacteria and the infection always occurs during the life of
sugarcane, sorghum, pearl millet etc. Azospirillum
symbiosis with blue green algae (Nostoc anabaena).They
species belong to the carbon compounds and adequately
are the potential source of nitrogen especially for wet
low level of facultative endophytic diazotrophs groups
land rice (Table 4). The contribution of nitrogen from
which colonize combined nitrogen (Andrew et al., 2007).
Azolla spp. to wet land rice has been found to be
Azospirillum, directly benefits plants by improving the
maximum when incorporated into the soil as green
fixing activity of bacteria in rhizosphere of plants (Nghia
manure (Galal, 1997). The benefit of growing azolla as a
and Gyurjan, 1987). It helps in shoot and root
biofertilizer for both N and K is its usefulness as human
development (Gonzalez et al., 2005).
feed and it is also used as a mosquito repellent. An
increase in the yield of paddy ranging from 9-39% has
Obligate endophytic diazotrophs (Azotobacter) been obtained in the field experiment when Azolla was
incorporated in the soil (Singh, 1977).
Azotobacter is an obligate aerobe, bacteria of the genus
Azospirillum are a well-known or endocytobionts live in Cyanobacteria
special cells of their hosts which are known as Rhizobia
found in the root nodules of legumes or Frankia N2 fixing Cyanobacteria are most wide spread N2 fixers
widespread in the soils of tropical, subtropical. Azotobacter on earth. Cyanobacteria or blue green algae are the
2338 Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

Table 3. Effect of Azotobacter on crop yield.

Increase in yield over yields obtained Increase in yield over yield obtained with
Crop Crop
with chemical fertilizers (%) chemical fertilizers (%)
Food grains Other
Wheat 8-10 Potato 13
Rice 5 Carrot 16
Maize 15-20 Cauliflower 40
Sorghum 15-20 Tomato 2-24
Cotton 7-27
Sugarcane 9-24

Table 4. Azolla spp. which can be used as Mass multiplication of Cyanobacteria

biofertilizer.
The following methods are used for mass cultivation:
Azolla spp. Reference
A. pinnata Singh and Srivastava, 1984 a) Cemented tank method
A. mexicana Thanh and Hang, 1988 b) Shallow metal trough method
A. filiculoides Singh and Srivastava, 1984 c) Polythene lined pit method
A. rubra Stergianou and Fowler, 1990 d) Field method
A. niloticaa Stergianou and Fowler, 1990
A. caroliniana Thanh and Hand, 1988 i) Prepare the cemented tank, shallow trays of iron sheets
A .microphylla Stergianou and Fowler, 1990 are polythene lined pits in an open area. Width of tanks
or pits should not be more than 1.5 m.This will facilitate
the proper handling of culture.
ii) Transfer 2-3 kg soil and add 100 g superphosphate.
diverse group of prokaryotes. The activities of nitrogen- Water the pit to about 10 cm height, Mix lime to adjust the
fixing organisms provide an important source of nitrogen pH. Add 2 ml of insecticides to protect the culture from
to the marine eco system (Gonzalez et al., 2005). They mosquitoes. Mix well and allow to settle down soil
also grow and fix nitrogen in terrestrial environment, from particles.
rain forest to desert (Peter et al., 2002). Cyanobacteria iii) When water become clear, sprinkle 100 g starter
are able to survive in the extreme environment and have culture on the surface of water.
ability to fix nitrogen because of the capacity to fix iv) When temperature remains around 35-40°C during
nitrogen; they are used as a bio fertilizer. In addition to summer, optimum growth of Cyanobacteria is achieved.
contributing N, the Cyanobacteria add organic matter, The water level is always maintained at about 10 cm
secrete growth promoting substance like auxin, vitamins, during the period.
mobilise insoluble phosphate and improve physical and v) After drying, the algal mass is separated from the soil
chemical nature of the soil. Cyanobacteria act as a that form flaskes. Then it is collected, powdered and
supplement to the N fertilizers contributing up to 30 kg N/ packed in the polythene bag and supplied to the farmers
ha. It increases the crop yield between 5-25%. after sealing the packets.
vi) The algal flakes can be used as starter inoculums
again.
Mass multiplication of Azolla

For mass multiplication of Azolla, microplots (20 m2) are Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus
prepared in the nurseries in which sufficient water (5-10
cm) is added. For profuse growth of Azolla 4-20 kg P2O5 G. diazotrophicus is a nitrogen-fixing, acetic acid
is amended. Optimum pH 8.0 and temperature of 14- bacterium first isolated from sugarcane plants. It belongs
30°C should be maintained. Finally, microplots are to phylum Proteobacteria (comprising Gram negative
inoculated with fresh Azolla. An insecticide (Furadon) is bacteria) section a-Proteobacteria, order Rhodospirillales
used to check the insect’s attack. After 3 weeks, the mat and family Acetobacteraceae. Currently, this family
of Azolla is ready for harvest and the same microplots are contains three nitrogen-fixing genera, comprising of
inoculated with fresh azolla to repeat the cultivation. seven species, namely Acetobacter nitrogenifigens,
Azolla mat is harvested and dried to use as green Gluconacetobacter kombuchae, Gluconacetobacter
manure. johannae Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans, G.
 Bhattacharjee and Dey 2339

Table 5. Biofertilizers which are used against crops.

Biofertilizer Recommended crop Fertilizer saving

Azolla pinnata (fresh) Low land rice 30-50 kg N
Azolla pinnata (dry) Wheat, potato, tobacco 30-50 kg N
BGA Low land rice 30-50 kg N
Azotobacter chroococcum Pearlmillet,sorghum, rajma, sugarcane, maize, potato, pigeonpea, onion, cotton 20-40 kg N
Azospirillum lipoferum Pearlmillet, fingermillet, paddy, sorghum, maize, tobacco, onion 20-40 kg N
Acetobacter diazotrophicus Sugarcane 100 kg N
Rhizobium spp Pigeonpea, chickpea, greengram 30-50 kg N
Bacillus circulans Cow pea 20-50 kg P205
Bacillus brevis Sorghum, wheat, pearlmillet 20-50 kg P205
Bacillus congulans Sorghum, cowpea, pearlmillet, groundnut 20-50 kg P205

diazotrophicus, Swaminathania salitolerans and Collectively, such bacteria are called plant-growth-
Acetobacter peroxydans. promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). These bacteria vary in
their mechanism of plant growth promotion but generally
influence growth via P solubilization, nutrient uptake
Rhizobium enhancement, or plant growth hormone production
(Bashan et al., 1990; Okon and Labandera-Gonzalez,
Rhizobium belongs to family Rhizobiaceae, it is symbiotic 1994; Goldstein et al., 1999; Richardson, 2001). Bertrand
in nature, it fixes 50-100 kg/ha nitrogen with legumes et al. (2000) showed that a rhizobacterium belonging to
only. It includes the following genera: Rhizobium, the genus Achromobacter could enhance root hair
Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Azorhizobium, number and length in oilseed rape (Brassica napus).
Mesorhizobium and Allorhizobium (Vance, 2001; Graham
and Vance, 2000). It is useful for the pulse legumes like
chickpea, red-gram, pea, lentil, black gram, etc., oil-seed POTENTIAL ROLE OF BIOFERTILIZER IN
legumes like soybean and groundnut and forage legumes AGRICULTURE
like berseem and lucerne (Table 5). It colonizes the roots
of specific legumes to form tumour like growths called The biofertilizers play an important role in improving the
root nodules, which acts as factories of ammonia fertility of the soil (Kachroo and Razdan, 2006; Son et al.,
production. 2007). In addition, their application in soil improves the
Rhizobium has ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in structure of the soil minimizes the sole use of chemical
symbiotic association with legumes and certain non- fertilizers. Under low land conditions, the application of
legumes like Parasponia. Population of the Rhizobium BGA + Azospirillum proved significantly beneficial in
population in the soil depends on the presence of legume improving LAI. Grain yield and harvest index also
crops in the field. In the absence of legumes, the increase with use of biofertilizers. Inoculation with
population decreases. Azotobacter + Rhizobium + VAM gave the highest
increase in straw and grain yield of wheat plants with rock
phosphate as a P fertilizer. Azolla is inexpensive,
Frankia (N fixers) economical, friendly, which provide benefit in terms of
carbon and nitrogen enrichment of soil (Kaushik and
Frankia is the genus of N2-fixing actinomycetes (Benson Prassana, 1989). Some commercially available
and Silvester, 1993; Huss-Danell, 1997). These are also biofertilizers are also used for the crop (Table 6). Raj
called actinorhizal plants and they are also used in land (2007) recorded that microorganisms (B. subtilis,
reclamation, for timber and fuel wood production, in Thiobacillus thioxidans and Saccharomyces sp.) can be
mixed plantations, for windbreaks, (Schwencke and Carù, used as bio-fertilizers for solubilization of fixed
2001). Frankia N2 fixation has been estimated to be micronutrients like zinc. Soybean plants, like many other
similar to rhizobial symbioses (Torrey, 1978; Dawson, legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen symbiotically and
1986; Dommergues, 1995). about 80 to 90% nitrogen demand could be supplied by
soybean through symbiosis (Bieranvand et al., 2003).
Bio-control, a modern approach of disease management
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria can play a significant role in agriculture (Tverdyukev et
al., 1994; Hoffmann-Hergarten et al., 1998; Yang-Xiu
Various bacteria can promote plant growth (Bashan, 1998). Juan et al., 2000; Sharon et al., 2001; Senthilkumar and
2340 Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

Table 6. Commercially available biofertilizer and their manufacture, beneficial crop and associated microorganisms.

Product Manufacture’s name Microbe used Benefical crop

Nitragin TM Nitragin Sales Corpn.Wisconsin, 53209 Rhizobium Soyabean
Rhizocote Coated Seed Ltd, Nelson, New Zealand Rhizobium Legumes
Nodosit Uniob Chemiques S.A. Belgium Rhizobium Legumes
Rhizonit Phlylaxia Allami Budapest, Hungary Rhizobium Legumes
Nitrazina Wytwornia Walcz Poland Azotobacter Cereals and vegetables
N-germ Laboratoire de Microbiologie, France BGA Rice
Tropical
Tropical inoculants Azotobacter Rice and wheat
inoculants
Brisbane, Queensland Agricultural Lab.
Nodulaid Rhizobium Legume
New South Wales, UK
Azotobacterin Tashkent laboratories Moscow Azotobacter Vegetable and cereals.
Indian Organic Chems. Ltd. Mahew Mahal,
Nodion Rhizobium
Bombay Legumes
Azoteeka Bacifil, 25 Nawal Kishore Rd.Lucknow Azotobacter Cereals
National Fertilizers and Chemicals 11, Ind Wheat, rice, maize, tea,
Agro-teeka Azotobacter
Area-II, Ramdarbar, Chandigarh sugarcane, potato.
Rhizoteeka Microbes India,87.Lenin Savabe, Calcutta Rhizobium Legumes
Nitrogeron Root Nodne Pvt. Ltd. Australia. Rhizobium Legumes

Rajendran, 2004; Li-Bin et al., 2005; Hossain et al., production of biofertilizers in the country is 10,000
2009). Trichoderma based BAU-biofungicide has been mt/annum and the production capacity is 18,000
found promising to control root knot diseases of French mt/annum. Average annual consumption of biofertilizers
bean (Rahman, 2005). Use of antagonist bacteria like in the country is about 64 g/ha.
Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium also has significant effect
in controlling root knot of mungbean (Khan et al., 2006).
Growth, yield and quality parameters of certain plants Limitation of biofertilizer
significantly increased with biofertilizers containing bac-
terial nitrogen fixer, phosphate and potassium solubilizing 1. Biofertilizers never mix with the chemical fertilizers.
bacteria and microbial strains of some bacteria (Youssef 2. Biofertilizers are never applied with the fungicides,
and Eissa, 2014). plant ash at a same time.
3. Biofertilizers are never exposed to direct sunlight.
4. Stored at room temperature not below 0 and 35°C.
Constraints in the use of the biofertilizer

1. Unavailability of suitable strain: Due to the lack of the CONCLUSION

availability specific strain it is one of the major constraint
in the production of the biofertilizer. Based on the fact Biofertilizers are becoming increasingly popular in many
that selective strain have ability to survive both in the countries and for many crops. Biofertilizers are fertilizers
broth and the inoculants carrier. containing living microorganisms, which increase micro-
2. Unavailability of suitable carrier: If suitable carrier is bial activity in the soil. Often, organic food is included to
not available it is difficult to maintain the shelf life of the help the microbes get established. In India soil fertility is
biofertilizer. As per the suitability, the order is peat, diminishing gradually due to soil erosions, loss of
lignite, charcoal, FYM, soil, rice husk. Peat of good nutrition, accumulation of toxic elements, water logging
quality is rarely found in India. Good quality carriers have and unbalanced nutrient compensation. Organic manure
a good moisture holding capacity, free from toxic and bio fertilizers are the alternate sources to meet the
substances. nutrient requirement of crops. biofertilizers, benefiting the
3. Lack of awareness among farmers: Farmers of India crops are Azotobacter, Azosprillium, Phosphobacter and
are not aware of the biofertilizers, their usefulness in Rhizobacter which are very important. The role of bio-
increasing crop yields. fertilizer in agricultural production is of great importance.
4. Inadequate and inexperienced staff: This is because Inoculation of nitrogen fixing bacteria with biofertilizer
the unskilled and the inadequate staff farmers are not increases the phosphorus level that influences the
given proper instruction about the application. The sunflower seed oil content and the proportion of fatty acids
 Bhattacharjee and Dey 2341

(unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio). Biofertilizers can Goldstein AH, Braverman K, Osorio N (1999). Evidence for mutualism
between a plant growing in a phosphate-limited desert environment
also make plant resistant to adverse environmental
and a mineral phosphate solubilizing (MPS) rhizobacterium. FEMS
stresses. Control of root-knot disease of soybean caused Microbiol. Ecol. 30:295-300.
by Meloidogyne javanica may be explored through use of Gonzalez LJB, Rodelas C, Pozo V, Salmeron MV, Mart nez, Salmeron
BAU-Biofungicide and BINA-Biofertilizer for eco-friendly V (2005). Liberation of amino acids by heterotrophic nitrogen fixing
bacteria. Amino Acids 28:363-367.
management of this nemic disease avoiding chemical
Graham PH, Vance CP (2000). Nitrogen fixation in perspective: An
nematicides. The proper application and use of overview of research and extension needs. Field Crops Res. 65:93-
biofertilizers will not only have an impact on sustainable 106.
agriculture’s economic development but it will also Hoffmann-Hergarten S, Gulati MK, Sikora RA (1998). Yield response
and biological control of Meloidogyne incognita on lettuce and tomato
contribute to a sustainable ecosystem and the holistic
with rhizobacteria. Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenkrankheiten und
well-being. Pflanzenschutz 105(4):349-358.
Hossain MA, Mahbub M, Khanam N, Hossain MS, Islam MM (2009).
Effect of Bio-agents on growth and root-knot (Meloidogyne javanica)
Conflict of Interests disease of soybean. J. Agrofor. Environ. 3(1):77-80.
Huss-Danell K (1997). Actinorhizal symbioses and their N2 fixation.
New Phytol. 136:375-405
The author(s) have not declared any conflict of interests. Ismail EG, Walid WM, Salah K, Fadia ES (2014). Effect of manure and
bio-fertilizers on growth, yield, silymarin content, and protein
expression profile of Silybum marianum. Adv. Agric. Biol. 1(1):36-44.
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