“A biofertilizer is a biological microorganism-containing substance which is when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, they colonize the rhizosphere, or the interior of the plant. They then promote growth by boosting the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.”

In layman’s terms—A bio-fertilizer is a form of organic fertilizer that has been modernized to include helpful microbes. All organic elements used for plant growth that are converted into a form that plants may absorb via microbes, plant associations, or interactions are referred to as bio-fertilizers in their broadest sense.

What is a Biofertilizers?

Biofertilizers are essential because agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. Despite the fact that the monsoon drives the majority of our agricultural activities, farmers can profit from using an appropriate biofertilizer by boosting soil fertility and generating a greater crop.

Biofertilizers are made up of microbes and living bacteria that aid to promote soil fertility and plant growth. These bacteria contribute to the nitrogen fixation process, which results in the production of plant growth factors.

Types of Biofertilizers

Biofertilizers are available in a variety of forms. The following are some examples of major biofertilizers:-

• Bacterial Biofertilizers: e.g. Rhizobium, Azospirilium, Azotobacter, Phosphobacteria.
• Fungal Biofertilizers: e.g. Mycorhiza
• Algal Biofertilizers: e.g. Blue Green Algae (BGA) and Azolla.
• Actinimycetes Biofertilizers: e.g. Frankia.

Features of Biofertilizers

Rhizobium:-

It is a more powerful and widely used biofertilizer that works with legumes to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Legumes produce root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen as a result of their symbiotic association with the bacterium rhizobium.

The availability of a suitable stain for a certain legume is crucial for the successful rhizobium nodulation of leguminous crops. The presence of legume crops in the field has an impact on the Rhizobium population in the soil. Rhizobium numbers in the soil decline when legumes are absent.

Azospirillum:-

Azospirillum has a symbiotic interaction with higher plant systems that is associative. Sorghum, maize, pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, and other minor millets, as well as fodder grasses, contain these bacteria.

Azotobacter:-

It is a bacteria that lives in dirt. In Indian soil, A. chrococcum is common. The amount of organic matter in the soil plays an important role in the growth of these bacteria.

Blue Green Algae (BGA):-

Blue green algae are known as rice animals because of their abundance in rice fields. Many species of Tolypothrix, Nostic, Schizothrix, Calothrix, Anoboenosois, and Plectonema can be found in tropical environments.

The bulk of nitrogen-fixing BGA are filamentous, which are made up of a chain of vegetative cells with specialized cells called heterocysts that act as a micronodule for synthesis and N-fixing machinery.

Components of Biofertilizers

Nitrogen fixers, potassium solubilizers, phosphorus solubilizers, and phosphorus mobilizers are examples of bio-fertilizers that can be used alone or in conjunction with fungi. The majority of bacteria in bio-fertilizers are associated with plant roots.

Rhizobacteria live on root surfaces or in the soil’s rhizosphere, where they interact symbiotically with legume roots. Phosphor microorganisms, typically bacteria and fungi, convert insoluble phosphorus into usable phosphorus for plants.

Importance of Biofertilizers

● They increase plant yield by 15% to 35%.

● Bio-fertilizers are effective even in semi-arid environments.

● Inoculum can be made by farmers themselves.

● They improve the texture of the soil.

● Pathogens are unable to grow in bio-fertilizers.

● Vitamins and biochemicals that stimulate growth are produced by them.

● They don’t harm the environment in any way and are absolutely safe to use.

Applications of Biofertilizers

The application of biofertilizers to seeds is known as seed treatment and is a very popular form of treatment. In this treatment, 300-400 ml water is mixed with 200 g nitrogenous biofertilizer and 200 g Phosphotika.

This mixture is then applied to ten kilograms of sun-dried seeds. Treatment-treated seeds must be planted as soon as possible.

Prabhat Fertilizer creates high-quality Biofertilizers that are one-of-a-kind, allowing your plant to bloom to its maximum potential. Our range of Biofertilizers include:

Biofertilizers Products

PRABHA ZINC

Phosphate Solubilizing Bacillus (PRABHA PSB) is a bacterial species that secretes particular organic acids that aid in the conversion of insoluble Tricalcium phosphate and Rock phosphate in soil to a simpler soluble form that plants may use. PRABHA ZINC tolerates a wide range of soil pH and temperature, and its usage improves overall soil health, boosts root development, and increases plant phosphate intake. It dramatically increases crop growth and productivity, resulting in a 15%–20% savings in fertilizer expenses. Prabha PSB is available in liquid, powder, and granular form. It is suitable for use on all crops and works well with other bio-fertilizers.

PRABHA PSB

Phosphate Solubilizing Bacillus (PRABHA PSB) is a genus of bacteria that produces organic acids that aid in the conversion of insoluble Tricalcium and Rock phosphate in soil to a soluble form that plants may use.

Prabha PSB can withstand a wide range of pH and temperature in the soil, and its use improves overall soil health, root development, and plant phosphate uptake.

It improves crop growth and yield while lowering fertilizer expenses by 15–20 percent. Prabha PSB is available in three different forms: liquid, powder, and granular.

PRABHA AZOS

PRABHA AZOS is a non-toxic formulation that contains Azospirillum, a Gram negative nitrogen-xing bacteria that xes atmospheric nitrogen and makes it available to plants.

Azospirillum is a non-symbiotic bacteria with a significant number of lipid granules that enter the cortical cells of the roots and absorb nitrogen from the environment.

Prabha AZOS is available in three different forms: liquid, powder, and granular. It’s safe to use on paddy, sorghum, vegetables, maize, wheat, and bajra, among other crops. Prabha AZOS is a bio-fertilizer that can be used in combination with other bio-fertilizers.

PRABHA RHIZO

PRABHA RHIZO is a non-toxic formulation that comprises Rhizobium, a nodulating microbe that has a symbiotic connection with the roots of legume plants. Rhizobium forms nodules, multiplies within them, and fixes nitrogen from the environment by remaining within them.

PRABHA RHIZO can provide 50-200 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare for the first crop and 20-30 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare for subsequent seasons, resulting in significant production increases.

PRABHA RHIZO benefits groundnut, black grame, green gram, red grame, cow pea, Bengal gram, mustard, soyabean, French bean, Cluster bean, Lab-Lab, Sesbania sp, and other leguminous plants. Prabha Rhizo is available in liquid, powder, and granular forms, and it can be combined with a wide range of other bio-fertilizers.

PRABHA AZOTO

PRABHA AZOTO is an environmentally friendly biological fertilizer formulation that contains Azotobacter bacteria that stick to the seed/seedlings and multiply using organic matter as a carbon source, such as sugars, organic acids, and amino acids released from germinated seeds/seedlings set in soil or root exudates.

PRABHA AZOTO uses atmospheric nitrogen to supply up to 20-30% of the nitrogen plants require, resulting in a 25% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use.

It also produces and deposits biologically active metabolites like vitamins, IAA, and gibberellins, which aid seed germination and plant growth, increasing yields.

PRABHA AZOTO is available in three different forms: liquid, powder, and granules. Prabha Azoto works well with other bio-fertilizers and can be used on the following crops.

PRABHAT GOLD (VAM)

PRABHAT GOLD (VAM) is a one-of-a-kind non-hazardous, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly bio-fertilizer. It’s a “mycorrhizae” formulation, which is a group of important soil organisms that act as an extension of the root system and form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, with the plant providing sugars and the fungi providing nutrients, resulting in lower fertilizer doses and suitability for all types of crops.

Prabhat Gold encourages plant root branching by allowing mycorrhizal hyphae to grow on the roots, allowing them to contact a larger surface area.

This increases the absorbent surface of the plant root system for water and nutrient absorption. Phosphorus, nitrogen, sulphur, potassium, and other micronutrients such as copper, zinc, manganese, and iron are mobilized and transferred by Prabhat Gold.

It also improves plant drought resilience and is beneficial to various crops, particularly horticulture. Prabhat Gold is a granular and liquid bio-fertilizer that complements other bio-fertilizers effectively.

PRABHA POTASH

PRABHA POTASH is an environmentally friendly formulation of the potassium mobilizing bacteria Frateuria aurantia, which colonizes the rhizosphere and aids in the mobilization of insoluble potassium, allowing plants to grow quicker.

Potassium is the only important plant nutrient that works continuously to drive plant growth while also improving plant resilience to disease, pests, cold, and other challenges.

Prabha Potash thrives in a wide range of soil pH and temperature, and its use boosts crop development and output while cutting potash application costs by 50-60%. Prabha Potash comes in three varieties: liquid, powder, and granular. It is safe for all crops and works well with other bio-fertilizers.

PRABHA DERMA

PRABHA DERMA is a fungal formulation that improves soil fertility and plant growth. Phosphorus (P) is a mineral macronutrient needed by plants for growth and development.

It contributes to the synthesis of phospholipids, nucleic acids, nucleotides, and other essential biological components. After inoculation, phospho-fungi have been demonstrated to boost plant development in a wide range of plant families, including cereals, legumes, oilseed and grain crops, vegetables and horticultural crops, and so on.

Using phosphorus solubilizing fungi increases shoot length, root length, and fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. This bio-fertilizer has been shown to be effective at stimulating plant development while remaining cost-effective in terms of soil fertility and natural integrity.

Prabha Derma is also available in liquid form. It is safe for all crops and works well with other bio-fertilizers.

PRABHAT BIO NPK

PRABHAT BIONPK is an environmentally friendly biological formulation containing highly effective bacterial cultures for all essential elements, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphorus-fixing bacteria, and potassium-solubilizing bacteria.

Prabhat BIONPK encourages more balanced plant development and keeps the soil biologically active, both of which are good for soil health. Prabhat BIONPK is a multipurpose bio-fertilizer that is effective with a wide range of crops. It comes in three varieties: liquid, powder, and granular.