A Bio fertilizer (also bio-fertilizer) is a substance which contains living microorganisms which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. Bio-fertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of growth-promoting substances. Bio-fertilizers provide eco-friendly organic agro-input and are more cost-effective than chemical fertilizers. Bio-fertilizers such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirilium] and blue green algae (BGA) have been in use a long time. Rhizobiuminoculant is used for leguminous crops.
A bio-fertilizer provides the following benefits:
Since a bio-fertilizer is technically living, it can symbiotically associate with plant roots. Involved microorganisms could readily and safely convert complex organic material in simple compounds, so that plants are easily taken up. Microorganism function is in long duration, causing improvement of the soil fertility. It maintains the natural habitat of the soil. It increases crop yield by 20-30%, replaces chemical nitrogen and phosphorus by 25%, and stimulates plant growth. It can also provide protection against drought and some soil-borne diseases.
Bio-fertilizers are cost-effective relative to chemical fertilizers. They have lower manufacturing costs, especially regarding nitrogen and phosphorus use.
Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control. Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic farming. There are several organic farming systems. Biodynamic farming is a comprehensive approach, with its own international governing body. The Do Nothing Farming method focuses on a minimum of mechanical cultivation and labor for grain crops. French intensive and bio intensive, methods are well-suited to organic principles. Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes. Organic farming methods are studied in the field of agro ecology. The principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. Crop diversity is a distinctive characteristic of organic farming. Conventional farming focuses on mass production of one crop in one location, a practice called monoculture. The science of agro ecology has revealed the benefits of poly culture (multiple crops in the same space), which is often employed in organic farming.
The estimated market value of certified organic products was estimated to be $20 billion. Organic food sales in the United States have increased from approximately $11 billion in 2004 to an estimated $27 billion. The fertilizer consumption in India has generally exceeded the domestic production in both nitrogenous and phosphate fertilizers, except for a few years. The fertilizer market in India was valued at USD ~ million in FY’2013 thus growing at a CAGR of 3.4% from FY’2006- FY’2013. It was observed that in FY’2013, the market witnessed a growth on account of the increasing population and demand of food grains in India.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Complete Technology Book on Bio fertilizer and Organic Farming (2nd Revised Edition) describes the detailed information on the subject. The major contents of this book are- introduction to bio fertilizers, nitrogen fixation, nitrogen fixing micro-organisms : symbiotic, application and evaluation techniques, application and evaluation techniques, modified anaerobic fermenter for bio fertilizer, biogas production from organic bio fertilizer, pest and disease management system in agriculture pesticide usage trend, biopesticides, sustainable agriculture, production : promotion : quality control and marketing, future research planning etc.
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