BIO-FERTILIZERS

A product that is biodegradable, not chemically synthesized, and has fertilizer potential is referred to as "biofertilizer."
However, biofertilizers are fertilizers that contain live organisms, like as bacteria or fungi, and are categorized as either
nitrogen-fixing or phosphate-solubilizing. One bacterial strain is present in each biofertilizer, and there are particular
biofertilizers for every nutrient supplement (Mehnaz, 2016).

Maintaining the amount and quality of agriculture is crucial for both economic exports and feeding the population, as it
is fundamental to a country's prosperity and survival. Numerous scientific advancements have been made in agriculture
over time to increase its efficiency.(Ajmal, 2018)

Chemical fertilizers and insecticides have been essential for increasing agricultural output for a long time. Despite their
brief history in contemporary agriculture, they gained widespread notice due to their fast action and affordable price. As
a result, their detrimental effects on the environment, plants, animals, and human life have caused eco-friendly plant
conservation to lose importance. (Patel et al., 2014). The term biofertilizer, depict everything from manures to plant
extract (Aggani, 2013).

A substance that incorporates living microorganisms is called biofertilizer. By boosting the host plant's supply of primary
nutrients, they encourage plant growth when applied to plant surfaces. Through natural processes including nitrogen
fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and plant growth stimulation and growth-promoting chemical synthesis, bio-
fertilizers provide nutrients.When applied to seeds, roots, or soil, biofertilizers, which are live compositions of helpful
microorganisms, increase the microorganisms' availability and usefulness and improve soil health (Bhattacharjee and
Dey, 2014).

In addition to managing crop yields, the application of organic manure is essential for demonstrating both direct and
indirect effects on soil nutrient accessibility by enhancing the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil
and increasing the efficiency of fertilizer application (Kapoor and Pandit, 2015).

An organic by-product that contains live microorganisms extracted from soil or plant roots is called biofertilizer. The use
of biofertilizer is growing in popularity as an alternative to chemical fertilizers in an effort to reduce crop production
costs, improve crop growth and yield by increasing the availability of nitrogen, and produce compounds that aid in plant
growth, such as auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellins. The mobility and availability of minerals necessary for plant growth
are greatly influenced by microbial activity, which in turn reduces the need for artificial fertilizers (Verma et al., 2017).

Bio-fertilizers can quickly boost productivity per unit area, consume less energy, improve soil fertility, decrease water
and soil contamination, and promote biological control and antagonism of phytopathogenic organisms (Yasin et al.,
2012).

Biofertilizers are important for improving output in sustainable agriculture as well as reducing the amount of artificial
fertilizers. The manufacture of biofertilizer is inexpensive and does not pollute the environment (Farnia and Hasanpoor,
2015).

Fixation of nitrogen via biological means When the German scientists Hellriegel and Wilfarth discovered that legumes
with root nodules could consume gaseous nitrogen in 1886, they recognized nitrogen fixation. Dutch researcher
Beijerinck isolated a bacterial strain from root nodules shortly after, in 1888. The isolate in question was a strain of
Rhizobium leguminosarum. According to Stewart (1969), Winodgradsky (1901) isolated the first strain of Clostridium
pasteurianum, whereas Beijerinck (1901) and Lipman (1903) were the microbiologists that isolated Azotobacter spp.
Later, blue-green algae's nitrogen fixation technology was developed (Stewart, 1969). Currently, studies in these areas
have revealed a number of positive traits (Barman et al., 2017).

Lack of nitrogen (N) is frequently the main issue limiting crop output. It is an essential plant nutrient that is frequently
used as N fertilizer to increase the yield of crops that are significant to agriculture. Treating Plant Growth-Promoting
bacteria is an intriguing substitute for using less N fertilizer (Ghany et al., 2013).
Beneficial microorganisms included in biofertilizers aid in plant growth and protect plants from pests and illnesses. The
purpose of biofertilizers is to utilize the organic, naturally occurring mechanism of nutrient mobilization (Jnawali, 2015).

The RhizobiumRhizobiaceae is the family to which Rhizobium belongs. These free-living, rod-shaped, gram-negative,
non-sporulating organisms are found in soil and have a propensity to fix atmospheric nitrogen in a symbiotic way. They
are referred to be an endosymbiotic N-fixing microbe associated with legume roots. Through the root system, it enters
plants and eventually develops into a nodule. As a result, root nodules serve as a microfermentor for organic N fixation,
converting ambient N to ammonia. In rice plants, rhizobium can affect the growth of the roots and shoots. It will fix
nitrogen in the specified host plant and has a very specific relationship with legume hosts. Additionally, Rhizobium
exhibits host specificity, which is tempered by plant substances like flavonoids that are generated by the host plant.
Rhizobium's nod genes are triggered by flavonoids. As a result, the bacteria eventually stop growing and develop into
bacteroids, which fix N nod and nif genes that produce the protein known as nodulin. It contains nif genes, which are in
charge of N fixation, and leg hemoglobin, which is utilized for nodule formation. Structural genes for nitrogenase and
other regulating enzymes are found in both free-living and symbiotic N-fixing bacteria. Rhizobium inoculants can be
introduced into soil using a variety of techniques; one popular technique is seed dipping. The bacteria enters the root
hair during seed germination and moves in the direction of the root. AzotobacterAzatobacter are free-living bacteria
that thrive in environments devoid of nitrogen. These bacteria synthesize their cell proteins using nitrogen gas from the
atmosphere. Following the demise of Azotobacter cells, this cell protein is subsequently mineralized in the soil,
increasing the crop plants' availability of nitrogen.

Azotobacter species are susceptible to high salt concentrations, acidic pH, and temperatures above 35°C. In addition to
fixing nitrogen, Azotobacter produces and secretes a lot of biologically active compounds that help plants expand their
roots, including B vitamins, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, heteroxins, gibberellins, and more. The release of
ammonia in the rhizosphere in the presence of root exudates, which aids in modifying nutrient uptake, is another trait of
Azotobacter linked to crop development.by the vegetation. Numerous crops have shown improvements in yield as a
result of Azotobacter inoculation. Azotobacter boosts agricultural crop plant yield by 10–12%. Additionally, Azotobacter
can increase wheat crop growth and grain yield. One of the most important biofertilizers for rice and other cereals is
Azotobacter, which can be applied by dipping seeds or seedling roots (Sridhar, 2012).

Azospirillum Gram-negative motile bacteria Azospirillum is a member of the Rhodospirillales order and is associated with
monocot roots, which include vital crops like rice, corn, and wheat. Around the world, it is the most effective
phytostimulator inoculant for cereals. It is possible to create an associative symbiosis between Azospirillum and cereals;
however, in contrast to mutualistic symbiosis, the production of additional organs does not demonstrate the link.
Through the production of phytohormones (indole-3-acetic acid, or IAA), associative nitrogen fixation, and the
deamination of the ethylene precursor, Azospirillum directly benefits the plant by regulating its hormonal balance. This
kind of microbe is good at colonizing the plant's root surface because it is associative. It facilitates the plants' uptake of
nitrogen from the atmosphere by creating a symbiotic organization (Abd El-Lattief, 2016).

Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM): Mycorrhizae are beneficial and frequent associations between plant roots and
fungus. Within the root, VAM fungus contaminate and proliferate. They possess unique structures called arbuscules and
vesicles. The fungi help move water and nutrients to the plant roots, and the plant roots give the fungi things. The roots
may grow up to 100 times longer due to the fungal hyphae. The hyphae assist plants absorb a variety of minerals,
particularly the less accessible mineral nutrients like copper, zinc, molybdenum, and phosphorus, by reaching farther
and wetter soil areas. A number of VAM fungus envelop the root in a sort of sheath, which can occasionally give it a
cottony, hairy look. Mycorrhizae increase seedling resistance to drought, extreme temperatures, and disease fungal
infestation by acting as a protective covering as well as extremely high soil acidity. When VAM is applied, better root
systems that combat soil-borne diseases and root rotting are produced. Plants in heavily weathered tropical acid soils
with low levels of basic cations and P, as well as potentially hazardous levels of aluminum, are likely to exhibit a
significant growth response to mycorrhizal fungus. The most advantageous plants would be those with small root
systems (Abd El-Lattief, 2016).
Biofertilizers' role in crop production:The kinetics of organic matter decomposition and the availability of plant nutrients
like N, P, and S are both significantly influenced by soil microorganisms. Microbial inoculants are widely acknowledged to
be a crucial part of integrated nutrient management, which promotes sensible agriculture. Furthermore, microbial
inoculants can be employed as a cost-effective input to increase crop yields, reduce fertilizer dosages, and extract more
nutrients from the soil.

By preserving fruit quality and output and encouraging nutrient-rich plants with reduced production costs, biofertilizer
could be utilized as a source of nutrients for soil microbiology. By transforming atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms
that plants may use, nitrogen-fixing bacteria play a critical role in increasing yield (Academia Journal of Agricultural
Research; Sneha et al. 305). Legumes and rhizobia are mutually connected, and the bacterium's location within the root
or stem nodules is where nitrogen fixation takes place. Under cultivated conditions, rhizobium inoculation increases
grain output by 10-15% compared to an uninoculated crop. It also promotes root nodulation and plant growth.
According to reports, the amount of nitrogen fixed by special annual legumes might range from 35 to 270 kg/ha
annually. The likely contenders for Alcaligenes, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Herba spirillum, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and
Rhizobium are the species that fix nitrogen biologically in rice. Rhizobium typically penetrates the root hairs, grows, and
produces root nodules because it is resistant to extreme temperature fluctuations. The primary component of
biofertilizers are specific living microbe cells that supply nutrients to plants via their roots. These fertilizers'
microorganisms provide nutrients to the plants through a variety of methods.

They have the ability to fix nitrogen, mobilize phosphates, solubilize phosphates, and encourage rhizobacteria. Selective
microorganisms that could benefit the soil are included in the preparation. The packaging's appropriateness is
guaranteed for a longer shelf life as well as the user's and the environment's safety. Because of their nutritional content
and comparatively less detrimental effects on the environment, biofertilizers are becoming more and more popular.
Additionally, they can be actively utilized as a renewable resource to replace chemical fertilizers. The use of bio-
fertilizers is crucial for improving soil fertility, crop production, and ultimate yield, according to a number of academics.
Furthermore, applying them to the soil improves the soil biota and reduces the need for artificial fertilizers (Mishra et
al., 2012).

In order to support the growth of biological activity in soils and preserve plant health, biofertilizers stimulate nutrients.
The addition of balanced nutrients, which support the growth of microorganisms and supply food, improves this.
Beneficial soil worms are also necessary. Root development and soil organic matter are improved when the soil is given
proper structure. The use of biofertilizers has a significant impact on micorrhizal development, which in turn accounts
for the soil's high phosphorus concentration.

Nitrogen-Fixing Microbes118 Nitrogen is most abundant and ubiquitous in the air, yet becomes a limiting nutrient119
due to difficulty of its fixation and uptake by the plants. However, certain microor-120 ganisms, some of which can form
various associations with plants as well, are121 capable of considerable nitrogen fixation. Earlier reports said that a thick
layer of cyanobacterial growth formed on the soil surface and then germinated. Under favorable climatic conditions, the
development of cyanobacterial biofertilizer technology has made significant progress. One of them is on the ground
surface and the other is floating in the water. In India, applied research of cyanobacteria especially in petri
dishes/pits/tanks has been carried out mainly at IARI (New Delhi), University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore) and
The Sun. Dried cyanobacterial flakes were collected and stored in polythene bags for use in paddy fields. The technology
is simple and economical but has some drawbacks (Department of Agriculture, Nadu Agricultural University, including
Tamil Nadu). IARI held a Pioneer Day. Since it was grown in local conditions with soil as a carrier, algae biofertilizer
technology was developed mainly to suit the climatic conditions, and its share in each rice crop increased in the 1960s.

However, not all farmed lowland fields maintain an abundance of nitrogen-fixing algae. In contrast, flooded rice fields
frequently feature a diversified flora with morphologically unique species, which has resulted in a large descriptive
literature.Nitrogen fixation increases soil fertility and agricultural yield by up to 34%. Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophs
that perform oxygenic photosynthesis and collect glycogen as a main source of stored carbon. Cyanobacteria are a
possible mechanism for the bioconversion of solar energy and CO2. There have been numerous issues that have
hampered research into the role of cyanobacteria in soil and rice fields. The majority of these are discussed in greater
length later on, although it is beneficial to be aware of some of them immediately. The challenge of naming species has
been particularly problematic.

Reference
Aggani, S. L. (2013). Development of bio-fertilizers and its future perspective. Schol. Acad. J. Pharm, 2(4), 327-332.

Patel, N. (2014). Bio fertilizer: A promising tool for sustainable farming. Int. J. Innov. Res. Sci. Eng. Techno, 3(9),
15838-15842.

Bhattacharjee, R., & Dey, U. (2014). Biofertilizer, a way towards organic agriculture: A Review. Afr. J. Microbiol. Res,
8(24), 2332-2343.

Kapoor, A. (2015). Organic agriculture: biofertilizer - A review. Int. J. Pharmaceut. Biol. Arch, 6(5), 1-5.

Verma, S. (2017). Bio-efficacy of organic formulations on crop production-A review. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci, 6(5),
648-665

Yasin, M. (2012). Bio-fertilizers, substitution of synthetic fertilizers in cereals for leveraging agriculture. Crop Environ,
3(1-2), 62-66.

Farnia, A., & Hasanpoor, K. (2015).Comparison between effect of chemical and biological fertilizers on yield and
yield components in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Indian J. Nat. Sci, 5(30), 7792-7800.

Barman, M. (2017). Biofertilizer as Prospective Input for Sustainable Agriculture in India. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci,
6(11), 1177-1186.

Ghany, T. M. A. (2013). Role of biofertilizers in agriculture: a brief review. Mycopath, 11(2), 95-101.

Jnawali, A. D. (2015). Role of azotobacter in soil fertility and sustainability–a review. Adv. Plants Agric. Res, 2(6), 1-5.

Shridhar, B. S. (2012). Review: Nitrogen fixing microorganisms. Int. J. Microbiol. Res, 3(1), 46-52.

Abd, El-Lattief, E. A. (2016).Use of azospirillum and azobacter bacteria as biofertilizers in cereal crops: A review. Int. J.
Res. Eng. Appl. Sci, 6(7), 36-44.

Mishra, D. J. (2012). Role of bio-fertilizer in organic agriculture: A review. Res. J. Recent. Sci, 2, 39-41.