Organic fertilizers and biofertilizers represent environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers, gaining increasing recognition for their sustainable agricultural practices. Organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources such as compost, animal manure, and plant residues, providing essential nutrients to plants while improving soil health and structure. Biofertilizers, on the other hand, harness the power of beneficial microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae to enhance nutrient availability and promote plant growth. Both organic and biofertilizers offer numerous advantages, including reduced environmental impact, improved soil fertility, and healthier crops, making them indispensable components of modern eco-conscious farming methods.
ORGANIC FERTILIZER
An organic fertilizer originates from natural sources, such as organic compost, cattle manures, poultry droppings, and domestic sewage. According to government regulations, organic fertilizer can be classified into two categories: Biofertilizer and Organic Manure.
BIOFERTILIZERS
Bio-fertilizers consist of living microorganisms adhering to solid or liquid carriers, aiding in enhancing soil and crop productivity on cultivable land. Examples of bio-fertilizers include Rhizobium, Azospirilium, Azotobacter, Phosphobacteria, Blue Green Algae (BGA), Mycorrhiza, and Azolla.
ORGANIC MANURE
Organic manure, conversely, encompasses partially decomposed organic matter such as digestate from a biogas plant, compost, and vermicompost. These materials furnish nutrients to the soil and crops, thereby enhancing yield.
POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER
- Utilizing Municipal Solid Waste:
- India generates over 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually. With an estimated collection efficiency of 80% and the organic fraction constituting 50% of MSW, the daily organic waste production in India stands at approximately 65,000 tonnes. Redirecting half of this waste to the biogas industry could significantly reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuel imports and chemical fertilisers.
- Utilizing Biogas Effluents:
- The organic fertiliser, also known as digestate, derived from biogas plants’ effluents holds significant value. While biogas can be employed for heating, electricity generation, and even vehicular purposes (post-upgradation), digestate represents a crucial resource in realizing the vision of a second green revolution.
- Increasing Soil Fertility:
- Digestate offers not only standard nutritional value but also organic carbon, which replenishes soil fertility, particularly important in the context of continuously depleting soil health.
- Current Production and Consumption:
- Presently, India produces over 110,000 tonnes of bio-fertilisers (comprising 79,000 tonnes in carrier-based and 30,000 tonnes in liquid-based forms) and 34 million tonnes of organic manure, including farmyard manure, city compost, and vermicompost, among others.
- Growing Popularity of Organic Farming:
- Organic farming has witnessed a surge in popularity within the domestic market in recent years. The market size for Indian organic packaged food is projected to expand at a rate of 17%, surpassing Rs 871 million by 2021.
Bio-Fertilizers and Their Use in Agriculture
- In pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices, it is imperative to utilize renewable inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides that benefit plants while minimizing environmental harm.
- One eco-friendly and energy-efficient method involves harnessing the capabilities of specific microorganisms—such as bacteria, algae, and fungi—to perform vital functions like nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, organic matter decomposition, and sulfur oxidation in the soil.
- When applied to the soil, these microorganisms enhance crop growth and yield, improve soil fertility, and mitigate pollution, earning them the title of “bio-fertilizers.”
- Bio-fertilizers encompass living or biologically active products, including microbial inoculants of bacteria, algae, and fungi, either individually or in combination, capable of enriching the soil with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter.
Here are some noteworthy types of bio-fertilizers commonly utilized in agriculture:
- Rhizobium Biofertilizer:
- Rhizobium is a symbiotic bacterium that forms root nodules in leguminous plants, serving as miniature nitrogen factories. These nodules fix more atmospheric nitrogen than required by the legume plant, with the surplus nitrogen secreted into the soil, fertilizing it.
- Azotobacter Biofertilizer:
- Azotobacter are aerobic free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria that inhabit the rhizosphere and fix atmospheric nitrogen non-symbiotically, making it available to various cereal crops. They also produce growth-promoting hormones, enhancing plant growth and yield.
- Azospirillium Biofertilizer:
- These aerobic free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria engage in associative symbiosis by residing on the root surface of host plants without forming nodules. They augment crop yield, supply growth hormones and vitamins to host plants, and are commonly used in commercial inoculants.
- Blue-Green Algae:
- Blue-green algae like Nostoc and Anabaena are photosynthetic organisms capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. In flooded rice fields, they serve as nitrogen bio-fertilizers.
- Azolla Biofertilizer:
- Azolla is a water fern hosting nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae, Anabaena. It contains nitrogen and organic matter, making it a widely used bio-fertilizer. However, its aquatic nature poses challenges, particularly in water-scarce conditions.
- Phosphorus Solubilizing Biofertilizer:
- Certain microorganisms can solubilize immobilized phosphorus, making it accessible to plants for absorption. This is crucial for plant growth and nodulation by rhizobium.
- Mycorrhizal Fungi Biofertilizer:
- Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots, enhancing nutrient absorption and conferring resistance to diseases, drought, salinity, and adverse soil conditions. They are particularly beneficial in nutrient-deficient soils.
FAQs Regarding Organic Fertilizer and Biofertilizers
1. What is organic fertilizer, and how is it classified?
A: Organic fertilizer originates from natural sources such as organic compost, cattle manures, poultry droppings, and domestic sewage. According to government regulations, it can be classified into two categories: Biofertilizer and Organic Manure.
2. What are biofertilizers, and how do they work?
A: Biofertilizers are composed of living microorganisms attached to solid or liquid carriers. When applied to the soil, they enhance soil and crop productivity by aiding in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, organic matter decomposition, and sulfur oxidation, among other functions.
3. What are some examples of biofertilizers?
A: Examples of biofertilizers include Rhizobium, Azospirilium, Azotobacter, Phosphobacteria, Blue Green Algae (BGA), Mycorrhiza, and Azolla.
4. What is organic manure, and how does it differ from biofertilizers?
A: Organic manure consists of partially decomposed organic matter such as digestate from a biogas plant, compost, and vermicompost. It provides nutrients to the soil and crops, thereby enhancing yield.
5. What are the potential benefits of utilizing organic fertilizers?
A: By utilizing municipal solid waste and biogas effluents, organic fertilizers can reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports and chemical fertilizers. They also increase soil fertility and contribute to sustainable agriculture practices.
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