BIOFERTILIZER After the introduction of chemical fertilizers in the last century, farmers were happy of getting increased yield in agriculture in the beginning. But slowly chemical fertilizers started displaying their ill-effects such as leaching out, and polluting water basins, destroying micro-organisms and friendly insects, making the crop more susceptible to the attack of diseases, reducing the soil fertility and thus causing irreparable damage to the overall system. A number of intellectuals throughout the world started working on the alternatives and found that biofertilizers can help in increasing the yield without causing the damage associated with chemical fertilizers.

What is Biofertilizer? Biofertilizer is a large population of a specific or a group of beneficial microorganisms for enhancing the productivity of soil either by fixing atmospheric nitrogen or by solubilising soil phosphorus or by stimulating plant growth through synthesis of growth promoting substances. Bio-fertilizers based on renewable energy source are cost effective supplement to chemical fertilizers, eco-friendly and can help to economise on the high investment needed for chemical fertilizer use as far as nitrogen and phosphorus are concerned.

Bio-fertilizers (also known as microbial inoculants) improve soil fertility and enhance nutrient uptake and water uptake in deficient soils, thereby aiding in better establishment of plants. Bio-fertilizers also secrete growth subustances and antifungal chemicals, as well as improve seed germination and root growth. The dual effects of phosphorus mobilizing fungi and specific nitrogen-fixing bacteria can cater to the needs of the current coffee plantation sector. Thus, the use of bio-fertilizers will effectively enrich the soil and will cost less than chemical fertilizers, which harm the environment and deplete non-renewable energy sources

Phospho: It releases insoluble phosphorus in soil and fix this phosphorus in clay minerals which is of great significance in agriculture. Rhizo: Rhizo Bacterial plays a very important role in agriculture by inducing nitrogen fixings nodules on the root of legumes such as peas,beans clove and alfalfa. Azotobactor: Atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen which is a very important nutrient for plant growth. Azotobactor fixes the atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and make it available to the plants. It protects the roots from other pathogens present in the soil Trichoderma: It is a non- pathogenic and eco-friendly product. The product is antagonistic hyper parasitic against different pathogens in the field and economically well established biocontrol agent Composter: (Decomposing Culture): Composter breaks down any organic matter such as dead plants farm yard waste, cattle waste etc. thereby increasing the soil productivity. Tricho-Card: Trichogramma is an efficient destroyer of eggs of many leaf and flower eaters, stems, fruit, shoot borers etc. It can be used in a variety of crops as well as in horticultural and ornamental plants,such as sugarcane,cotton,brinjal,tomato,corn,jawar,vegetables,citrus,paddy apple etc. Vermi Compost: It is 100% pure eco-friendly organic fertilizer. This organic fertilizer has nitrogen phosphorus, potassium,organic carbon,sulphur,hormones,vitamins,enzymes and antibiotics which helps to improve the quality and quantity of yield. It is observed that due to continuous misuse of chemical fertiliser soil losses its fertility and gets salty day by day. To overcome such problems natural farming is the only remedy and Vermi compost is the best solution. Biocompost: It is eco-friendly organic fertilizer which is prepared from the sugar industry waste material which is decomposed and enriched of with various plants and human friendly bacteria and fungi. Biocompost consists of nitrogen, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and various useful fungi like decomposing fungi, trichoderma viridea which protects the plants from various soil borne disease and also help to increase soil fertility which results to a good quality product to the farmers.

Compost Compost (pronounced /ˈkɒmpɒst/ or US /ˈkɒmpoʊst/) is the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic matter. It is used in landscaping, horticulture and agriculture as a soil conditioner and fertiliser. It is also useful for erosion control, land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as landfill cover (see compost uses). Compost serves as a growing medium,or a porous, absorbent material that holds moisture and soluble minerals, providing the support and nutrients in which most plants will flourish. To maximize plant growth, it is sometimes necessary to dilute compost with soil or peat to reduce salinity or to add neutralisers to bring the pH closer to 7, or additional nutrients like fertilisers or manure, wetting agents, and materials to improve drainage and aeration, such as sand, grit, bark chips, vermiculite, perlite, or clay granules.

Compost types There are different ways to compost, starting with layers of 'brown' and 'green' biodegradable waste mixed with garden soil. 'Brown' waste refers to old straw, tough vegetable stems and hedge clippings. 'Green' waste refers to biodegradable waste that breaks down faster, such as fruit, coffee grounds, cut flowers, and grass clippings. There is also Vermicomposting, which uses worms to help break down the organic waste.

Compost End Uses recommended as a soil amendment It is principally intended as a blend with soil or other matrices such a coir and peat.

Bokashi Bokashi (Japanese for "fermented organic matter") is a method of intensive composting Bokashi is commonly made with only molasses, water, EM, and wheat bran. However, Bokashi can be made by inoculating any organic matter with a variety of hosts of beneficial bacteria/microbes. This includes manures, spent mushroom compost, mushroom spores, worm-casting tea, forest soil tea, yeast, pickles, sake, miso, natto, wine and beer. Molasses feeds the microbial cultures as they inoculate the organic matter.

indigenous microrganisms In ecology, an indigenous species is an organism which is native to a given region or ecosystem. Indigenous species contrast with introduced species. An introduced species, also known as a naturalized or exotic species, is an organism that is not indigenous to a given place, but has been transported there as a result of human activity. E.g Lacto bacillus culture,

Back Ground of EM Technology EM Technology is developed by Prof. Higa in 1982. This EM Technology was mainly used in Agriculture field at beginning. But we came to know it is very useful technology not only agriculture field but also Environmental field and others. Thereafter EM has been used for animal husbandly, industry human welfare, education, construction and medical field. 10

①EM is complex microorganisms solution. ②It contains mainly three species such as Lactic acid Bacteria, Yeast, Phototrophic Bacteria ③Above microorganisms are collected from food industries and nature. ④ All microorganisms in EM are non genetic bacteria.

Types of Microorganism Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus plantarum; L. Casei; Streptococcus Lactis. Photosynthetic bacteria: Rhodopseudomonas Palustris; Rhodobacter Sphaeroides. Yeast: Saccharomyces Cerevisiae; Candida Utilis (usually known as Toula, Pichia Jadinii). Actinomycetes: Streptomyces Albus; S. Griseus. Fermenting fungi: Aspergillus oryzae; Mucor Hiemalis.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Lactic acid bacteria is used for Yogurt and cheese mainly.

Lactic Acid Bacteria The lactic acid created by the lab keeps the harmful microbes away.

Yeast Yeast is used for making wine, beer and bread etc…..

Yeast The enzymes (protein -> cant be absorbed by plants, hence yeast transform the protein to sugars which can be absorbed by plants. Starch as well as compost lignens transformed hydrocarbons -> transformed into sugar by lab and yeasts and hence can be absorbed by plants.

Phototropic Bacteria Hydrogen Sulfide Odorless Ammonia Odor In case this is sprayed on plants, ptb will increase the phtosynthesis ability of plants and the sugar content in the fruits or tomatoes can be increased… Odor

Phototropic bacteria Lactic Acid Bacteria Yeast Coexist

Beneficial influences of EM in Agriculture Promotes germination, flowering, fruiting and ripening in plants. Improves physical, chemical and biological environments of the soil and suppresses soil borne pathogens and pests. Enhances the photosynthetic capacity of crops. Ensures better germination and plant establishment Increases the efficacy of organic matter as fertilizers. Develops resistance of plants to pests and diseases