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Uses and Application
It is a great source of nitrogen to meet the needs of crops because also
has the capabilities to cause a rejuvenation of soil microbiology to tap out the biological fixation of nitrogen.
Azotobacter
Are free living bacteria which utilize atmospheric nitrogen gas for synthesis and
then mineralised in the soil after the death of Azotobacter thereby contributing towards the nitrogen availability of the crop plants.
Azotobacter is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium, which is used as a biofertilizer in the cultivation of most crops.
All plant needs
nitrogen for its growth and Azotobacter fixes atmospheric nitrogen non-symbiotically.
Therefore, all plants, trees, vegetables, get benefited. However, especially cereals,
vegetables, fruits, trees, sugarcane, cotton, grapes, banana, etc. are known to get
addition nitrogen requirements from Azotobacter. Azotobacter also increases germination of
seeds. Seeds having less germinating percent if inoculated can increase germination by
20-30%.
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Features:
Azotobacter are tolerant to high salts.
Azotobacter is heaviest breathing organism and requires a large amount of organic carbon for its growth.
It is poor competitor for nutrients in soil and hence its growth promoting substances, fungistatic substances.
It can benefit crops by Nitrogen fixation, growth promoting substances, fungi static substances.
Azotobacter is less effective in soils with poor organic matter content.
It improves seed germination and plant growth
It thrives even in alkaline soils.
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Use as Fertilizer
It is recommended the application of the Azotobacter biofertilizer at the rate of 20 kg per hectare per year and this assures a substantial saving of nitrogen fertilizer (about 50 % reduction in N requirement).
This indirectly reduces the costs involved in the silkworm rearing aspects as well as the soil health is improved by increased microbial activity.
The process of mass multiplication of the microbial culture and packing in polythene bags along with a carrier (preferably lignite or coal) has been standardized.
The process ensures a minimum of 108 viable cells of Azotobacter per gram of carrier on dry weight basis within 15 days of preparation and 107 viable cells before the expiry date (As per the BIS norms). The shelf life of the biofertilizer is six months from date of manufacture. The Process requires locally available plant, machinery and raw materials for manufacture. The mass culture can be done by shake-flask or by using a fermentor depending on the investment capability. The culture is then mixed with the carrier material under hygienic conditions and packed immediately. The batch number and expiry date are immediately affixed on each bag. Normally, packets are available in 250 g, 500 g, 1.0 kg and 5.0 kg deno
minations.
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How to apply bio-fertilizer ?
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Seed inoculation
On the basis of
efficiency of Azotobacter, other micro-organisms present in the soil, benefits obtained
from biofertilizer and expenditure it has been fixed to use Azotobacter - bio-fertilizer
at the rate of 250 g biofertilizer for 10-15 kg. If one knows this proportion then take a
definite quantity of seed to be inoculated. The required quantity of fresh biofertilizer
is secured and a slurry is made by adding adequate, quantity of water. This slurry is
uniformly applied to seed, seed is then dried in shed and sown. Some stickers are used in
order to adher biofertilizer to seeds. Viz. Jaggery or gum arebia.
Seedling inoculation
This method of
inoculation is used where seedlings are used to grow the crop. In this method, seedlings
required for one acre are inoculated using 4-5 packets (2-2.5 kg). For this, in a bucket
adequate quantity of water is taken and biofertilizer from these packets is added to
bucket and mixed properly. Roots or seedlings are then dipped in this mixture so as to
enable roots to get inoculum. These seedlings are then transplanted e.g. Tomato, Rice,
Onion, Cole, Crops, flowers.
Self inoculation or tubez inoculation:
In this method 50
litres of water is taken in a drum and 4-5 kg of Azotobacter biofertilizer is added and
mixed properly. Sets are required for one acre of land are dipped in this mixture. Potato
tubers are dipped in the mixture of biofertilizer and planting is done.
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Soil Application
This method is
mostly used for fruit crops, sugarcane, and trees. At the time of planting fruit tree 20 g
of biofertilizer mixed with compost is to be added per sappling, when trees became matured
the same quantity of biofertilizer is applied.
In sugarcane after
two to three months of planting i.e. before earthing up 5-6 kg of biofertilizer per acre
is applied by mixing with compost or soil. Although, Azotobacter fixes nitrogen
non-symbiotically, it also fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the rhizospere region i.e. soil
around the seedlings or trees. Biofertilizer applied to seed or seedlings bacteria remain
around seeds or seedlings and use organic carbon for their metabolism. When seeds are
germinated or seedlings set in soil they leave or exude root exudates which become food of
these bacteria. They grow on these substances which include sugars, organic acids, amino
acids and fix atmospheric nitrogen most efficiently. Nitrogen so fixed by these bacteria
becomes available to plants after dead and degradation of bacterial cells.
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Bio Fertilizer Storage
The storage periods for
biofertilizer must think in conditions, such temperature and humidity.
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