Biofertilizers and Their Types

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What are biofertilizers?

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Biofertilizers add nutrients to the soil through natural processes such as fixing atmospheric nitrogen, solubilizing phosphorus, and enhancing plant growth.

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Name the main categories of biofertilizers.

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1. Nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers 2. Phosphorus Solubilising Microorganisms (PSM) 3. Phosphate mobilizing microbes: Mycorrhizae 4. Mineral-Solubilizing Biofertilizers 5. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)

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What are nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers?

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Nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers are organisms that can fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available to plants.

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What are free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

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Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Azotobacter and Clostridium, live freely in the soil and fix nitrogen.

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What is associative symbiosis in nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

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Associative symbiosis refers to bacteria that live both inside and outside the root, forming a symbiotic relationship with the host plant.

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What are symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

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Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, like Rhizobium, develop a mutually beneficial relationship with leguminous plants, providing them with fixed nitrogen.

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What role do Rhizobium play in nitrogen fixation?

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Rhizobium forms nodules on the roots of legume plants, where they fix atmospheric nitrogen in exchange for shelter and food.

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What is Azotobacter and its significance?

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Azotobacter is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium recommended for non-leguminous crops, producing growth-promoting compounds.

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What is Azospirillum?

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Azospirillum is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that associates with the roots of higher plants, promoting growth and nutrient uptake.

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What is the role of cyanobacteria in biofertilization?

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Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, fix nitrogen and enrich the soil with organic matter and nutrients.