Biofertilizers are substances containing germs that promote the growth of plants and trees by providing necessary nutrients to the plants. They are made up of living organisms such as mycorrhizal fungi, green algae, and microorganisms. Mycorrhizal fungi selectively withdraw minerals from raw materials for the plant while cyanobacteria possess the property of nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is the process of converting di-nitrogen particles into nitrogen compounds.
Common types of biofertilizers include Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria such as Rhizobium which offer fixed nitrogen to plants in return for food, Loose Association of Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms like Azospirillum, Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacteria such as Blue-Green algae, and Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Germs such as saprotrophic anaerobes. Rhizobium and Azospirillum are the most widely used ones.
Components of biofertilizers include Biography Compost, Tricho-Card, Azotobacter, Phosphorus, and Vermicompost. These components aid in improving soil texture, yield of plants, and protect the environment from pollutants.
Biofertilizers are more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than chemical fertilizers. They have been proven to be effective even under semi-arid conditions and destroy many harmful substances present in the soil that can cause plant diseases. Common applications of biofertilizers include Seedling root dip, Seed Treatment, and Soil Therapy.
Biofertilizers are necessary to restore the fertility of the soil. Long-term use of chemical fertilizers weakens the soil and affects plant yield. Biofertilizers, on the other hand, improve the water holding capacity of the soil and add essential nutrients such as nitrogen, vitamins, and proteins to the soil. They are the natural form of fertilizers and hence widely used in agriculture.
Some frequently asked questions about biofertilizers include the understanding of what biofertilizers are, the advantages of biofertilizers over chemical fertilizers, the need for using biofertilizers, and the bacteria used as biofertilizers.
Rhizobium is an essential nitrogen-fixing bacteria which stays in symbiotic association with the leguminous plants, particularly in their root nodules. It traps atmospheric nitrogen and converts it into usable forms that improve plant growth.