Bio-fertilizers
Ajeet Kumar Singh
[Link] (Hons) College of Agriculture.
MICROB-121 Topic :- Bio-fertilizers
Bio - Fertilizer :-
The term bio-fertilizer refer to the application of beneficial microorganisms as fertilizer in the crop
production which work either alone or symbiotically with the plant roots. Such microorganisms
convert inert atmospheric or edaphic (soil) nutrients into the usable form by the plants such as
rhizobium convert the inert form of nitrogen into the usable form.
Organisms which used as bio-fertilizer - Bacteria, Fungi, Actinomycetes, Algae,..
Classification of Bio-fertilizer :- On the basis of nutrients providing type micro organisms,they are
classified as :
Type of association
Sr. Type of Symbiotic Free - Living
No. Nutrients
providing Associative
Symbiotic Aerobic Anaerobic
Symbiotic
Rhizobium(B),
Azotobacter(B),
Frankia,
1. Nitrogen Anabina, Azospirillum Beijerinckia(B), Clostridium(B)
Azola+BGA(B) (B) Anabaena(B)
Mycorrhiza(F),
VAM. Pseudomonas (B),
2.
Phosphorus (Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza) Aspergillus(F),
B- Bacteria, F- Fungi
Prepared by Ajeet Kumar Singh A.N.D.U.A.&T. KUMARGANJ AYODHYA
Bio-fertilizers
Nitrogen fixing :-
Symbiotic - The most widely known symbiotic N2 fixing bacteria are Rhizobium (family
Rhizobiaceae). These bacteria harbour in the root nodules of legumes. Besides, Frankia
is another important genus that is capable of N2-fixing through infecting and nodulating
trees or the plants of woody families.
Associative Symbiotic - Certain bacteria, living in close contact with the roots of cereal
and grasses, fix nitrogen. This association is a loose mutualism, Called associative
Symbiosis. The bacteria reside in the transition zone between soil and root (the
rhizosphere) and sometimes enter the roots.
Free Living - Many free-living bacteria such as Azotobacter, Beijerinckia, and
Clostridium fix atmospheric N2 in some plants like alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cucumber
and barley plants.
Root Nodules Symbiotic Associative Symbiotic Free Living
Phosphorus Mobilizing :-
The members of this group are bacterial and fungal species which solubilize insoluble inorganic
phosphate compounds, such as tricalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite and
rock phosphate. The most efficient ones belong to Bacillus and Pseudomonas among Bacteria
and Aspergillus and Penicillium among Fungi.
Cyanobacteria :-
Prepared by Ajeet Kumar Singh A.N.D.U.A.&T. KUMARGANJ AYODHYA
Bio-fertilizers
These are blue-green bacteria also called cyanobacteria, generally found in water and on land. They
also help fix atmospheric nitrogen. Examples are Oscillatoria, Nostoc, Anabaena [Link] the
cultivation of rice, cyanobacterial N2 fixation (mainly through Nostoc and Anabaena) is essential. The
symbiotic association between the aquatic fern Azolla and Anabaena is very important for rice fields.
In this association, Anabaena receives nutrients like carbon and nitrogen from the plants in
exchange for fixed nitrogen. This in turn adds organic matter to the soil enhancing the fertility of rice
fields.
Prepared by Ajeet Kumar Singh A.N.D.U.A.&T. KUMARGANJ AYODHYA
