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biofertilizer

{{Short description|Substance with micro-organisms}}{{More categories|date=March 2025}}File:Blue-green algae cultured in specific media.jpg cultured in specific media. Blue-green algae can be helpful in agriculture as they have the capability to fix atmospheric nitrogen to soil. This nitrogen is helpful to the crops. Blue-green algae is used as a biofertilizer.]]

A biofertilizer is a substance containing living micro-organisms which, when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.{{cite journal | title = Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria as biofertilizers | doi = 10.1023/A:1026037216893| year = 2003| last1 = Vessey| first1 = J. Kevin| journal = Plant and Soil| volume = 255| issue = 2| pages = 571–586| bibcode = 2003PlSoi.255..571V| s2cid = 37031212}} Biofertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of growth-promoting substances. The micro-organisms in biofertilizers restore the soil's natural nutrient cycle and build soil organic matter. Through the use of biofertilizers, healthy plants can be grown, while enhancing the sustainability and the health of the soil. Biofertilizers can be expected to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but they are not yet able to replace their use. As of 2024, more than 340 biofertilizer products have been approved for commercial use in the US.{{Cite web |title=Microbe-containing Products Advertised to Enhance Crop Growth {{!}} Vegetable Production Systems Laboratory |url=https://u.osu.edu/vegprolab/microbe-containing-products-advertised-to-enhance-crop-growth/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=u.osu.edu}}

Composition

Biofertilizers provide "eco-friendly" organic agro-inputs. Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and blue-green algae (BGA) are perhaps the species with the longest history of use as biofertilizers. Rhizobium inoculant is used for leguminous crops. Azotobacter can be used with crops like wheat, maize, mustard, cotton, potato, and other vegetable crops. Azospirillum inoculations are recommended mainly for sorghum, millets, maize, sugarcane, and wheat. Blue-green algae belonging to the cyanobacteria genera Nostoc, Anabaena, Tolypothrix, and Aulosira fix atmospheric nitrogen and are used as inoculants for paddy crops grown in both upland and lowland conditions. Anabaena, in association with the water fern Azolla, can contribute nitrogen up to 60 kg/ha/season and can also enrich soils with organic matter.{{cite web|url= http://explogrow.com/agri-beneficial-microbes-and-effects-of-organic-bio-fertiliser-on-soil-plant-and-disease|title= Listing 17 bio-fertilizer microbes and their effects on the soil and plant health functions|publisher=Explogrow |date=15 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://eprints.ru.ac.za/36/1/Kiguli.PDF |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718172735/http://eprints.ru.ac.za/36/1/Kiguli.PDF |archive-date=2011-07-18 |url-status=dead }} Seaweeds are rich in various types of mineral elements (potassium, phosphorus, trace elements, etc.), hence they are extensively used as a form of manure replacement by people of coastal districts.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} Seaweed-fertilizer also helps in breaking down clays.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} Fucus is used by Irish people as a biofertilizer on a large scale.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} In tropical countries, the bottom mud from dried-up ponds which contain abundant blue-green algae is regularly used as biofertilizer in fields.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

File:The root-like Mycelium of a fungus.jpg fungi promote bioavailability of nutrients for plants]]

= Bacteria =

Plant-Growth Promoting Microorganisms:

  • Rhizobium: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium with legumes contributes substantially to total nitrogen fixation. Rhizobium inoculation is a well-known agronomic practice to ensure adequate nitrogen.{{Cite journal |last1=Soe |first1=Khin Myat |last2=Yamakawa |first2=Takeo |date=2013-06-01 |title=Evaluation of effective Myanmar Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from Myanmar soybean and effects of coinoculation with Streptomyces griseoflavus P4 for nitrogen fixation |journal=Soil Science and Plant Nutrition |volume=59 |issue=3 |pages=361–370 |doi=10.1080/00380768.2013.794437 |bibcode=2013SSPN...59..361S |issn=0038-0768 |s2cid=85207082}}{{cite journal |vauthors=John RP, Tyagi RD, Brar SK, Surampalli RY, Prévost D |date=September 2011 |title=Bio-encapsulation of microbial cells for targeted agricultural delivery |journal=Critical Reviews in Biotechnology |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=211–226 |doi=10.3109/07388551.2010.513327 |pmid=20879835 |s2cid=207467630}} One of the most widespread species is R. leguminosarum.
  • Bradyrhizobium spp. (in particular Bradyrhizobium japonicum).{{Cite journal |last1=Brambilla |first1=Silvina |last2=Stritzler |first2=Margarita |last3=Soto |first3=Gabriela |last4=Ayub |first4=Nicolas |date=2022-12-01 |title=A synthesis of functional contributions of rhizobacteria to growth promotion in diverse crops |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452219822001410 |journal=Rhizosphere |volume=24 |pages=100611 |doi=10.1016/j.rhisph.2022.100611 |bibcode=2022Rhizo..2400611B |issn=2452-2198}}
  • Bacillus spp. (in particular B. amyloliquefaciens, B. mojavensis, B. thuringiensis, B. licheniformis, and B. subtilis).
  • Priestia megaterium
  • Azotobacter spp. (A. chroococcum, A. vinelandii){{Cite journal |last1=Aasfar |first1=Abderrahim |last2=Bargaz |first2=Adnane |last3=Yaakoubi |first3=Kaoutar |last4=Hilali |first4=Abderraouf |last5=Bennis |first5=Iman |last6=Zeroual |first6=Youssef |last7=Meftah Kadmiri |first7=Issam |date=2021-02-25 |title=Nitrogen Fixing Azotobacter Species as Potential Soil Biological Enhancers for Crop Nutrition and Yield Stability |journal=Frontiers in Microbiology |language=en |volume=12 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2021.628379 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-302X |pmc=7947814 |pmid=33717018}}
  • Pseudomonas (P. fluorescens)
  • Streptomyces sp.
  • Azospirilium
  • Streptomyces grisoflavus{{Cite journal |last1=Ahmed |first1=Sohail |last2=Hassan |first2=Babar |last3=Farooq |first3=Muhammad Umer |date=December 2018 |title=Effect of biofertilizers and diatomaceous earth on life and movement of subterranean termites under laboratory conditions |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1742758418000103/type/journal_article |journal=International Journal of Tropical Insect Science |language=en |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=348–352 |doi=10.1017/S1742758418000103 |bibcode=2018IJTIS..38..348A |issn=1742-7584 |s2cid=91596645}}

= Fungi =

Mycorrhizal fungi such as:

File:Vermikampost belarus.jpg-tea is often used in organic farming as biofertilizer.]]

= Archaea =

  • Nitrososphaerota{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Xueling |last2=Chi |first2=Yongkuan |last3=Song |first3=Shuzhen |date=2024-03-25 |title=Important soil microbiota's effects on plants and |journal= Frontiers in Microbiology|language=en |volume=15 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1347745 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-302X |pmc=10999704 |pmid=38591030}} (in particular Nitrosocosmicus oleophilus{{Cite journal |last1=Song |first1=Geun Cheol |last2=Im |first2=Hyunjoo |last3=Jung |first3=Jihye |last4=Lee |first4=Soohyun |last5=Jung |first5=Man-Young |last6=Rhee |first6=Sung-Keun |last7=Ryu |first7=Choong-Min |date=March 2019 |title=Plant growth-promoting archaea trigger induced systemic resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana against Pectobacterium carotovorum and Pseudomonas syringae |url=https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1462-2920.14486 |journal=Environmental Microbiology |language=en |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=940–948 |doi=10.1111/1462-2920.14486 |pmid=30461142 |bibcode=2019EnvMi..21..940S |issn=1462-2912}})
  • Euryarchaeota

= Organic matter =

  • Compost is commonly used as biofertilizers. It can be used directly on the soil or by using compost-derived products such as extracts or compost-tea made by fermenting compost mass. Vermicompost-based innoculants proposed by permaculture methods, Korean natural farming and JADAM{{Cite web |title=JADAM Organic Farming |url=http://en.jadam.kr/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=en.jadam.kr |language=ko}} are examples of biofertilizers. "Seed balls" using a mixture of clay and compost proposed by the Fukuoka Method could also be seen as biofertilizer. Mixtures of compost with other organic materials such as Chitosan (which helps elicit plant defense),{{Cite journal |last1=Guo |first1=Jia |last2=Cheng |first2=Yulin |date=January 2022 |title=Advances in Fungal Elicitor-Triggered Plant Immunity |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |language=en |volume=23 |issue=19 |pages=12003 |doi=10.3390/ijms231912003 |doi-access=free |issn=1422-0067 |pmc=9569958 |pmid=36233304}} or non-organic materials such as Montmorillonite-Illite clay and Diatomaceous earth are also often used to increase the minerals to support organism growth.
  • Manure
  • Duckweed{{Cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Jun |last2=Otero-Gonzalez |first2=Lila |last3=Lens |first3=Piet N.L. |last4=Ferrer |first4=Ivet |last5=Du Laing |first5=Gijs |date=December 2022 |title=Assessment of selenium and zinc enriched sludge and duckweed as slow-release micronutrient biofertilizers for Phaseolus vulgaris growth |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116397 |journal=Journal of Environmental Management |volume=324 |pages=116397 |bibcode=2022JEnvM.32416397L |doi=10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116397 |issn=0301-4797 |pmid=36208519|hdl=2117/403700 |hdl-access=free }}

File:Ascophyllum nodosum.jpg has very high nutrient density]]

Seaweed and blue green algae:

File:Common Duckweed (Lemna minor), Craigleith, Edinburgh - geograph.org.uk - 5454611.jpg has been studied as a biofertilizer]]

Cyanobacteria:

  • Spirulina{{Cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Qiyu |last2=Zhu |first2=Tao |last3=Zhao |first3=Ruifeng |last4=Zhao |first4=Yang |last5=Duan |first5=Yangkai |last6=Liu |first6=Xiang |last7=Luan |first7=Guodong |last8=Hu |first8=Ruibo |last9=Tang |first9=Sanyuan |last10=Ma |first10=Xinrong |last11=Liu |first11=Yan |last12=Li |first12=Shengjun |last13=Lu |first13=Xuefeng |date=2023-12-05 |title=Arthrospira promotes plant growth and soil properties under high salinity environments |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |language=en |volume=14 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2023.1293958 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-462X |pmc=10728656 |pmid=38116155}}
  • Nostoc
  • Tolypothrix
  • Aulosira
  • Anabena

Mechanisms

Biofertilizers work through multiple mechanisms. Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizae are generally thought to increase the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen,{{Cite journal |last1=Zakry |first1=Fitri Abdul Aziz |last2=Shamsuddin |first2=Zulkifli H. |last3=Abdul Rahim |first3=Khairuddin |last4=Zawawi Zakaria |first4=Zin |last5=Abdul Rahim |first5=Anuar |date=2012 |title=Inoculation of Bacillus sphaericus UPMB-10 to Young Oil Palm and Measurement of Its Uptake of Fixed Nitrogen Using the 15N Isotope Dilution Technique |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsme2/27/3/27_ME11309/_article |journal=Microbes and Environments |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=257–262 |doi=10.1264/jsme2.ME11309 |pmc=4036051 |pmid=22446306}} convert inorganic phosphorus compounds into soluble forms, increase the bioavailability of minerals in the soil,{{Citation |last1=Riaz |first1=Umair |title=Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides |date=2021 |work=Microbiota and Biofertilizers: A Sustainable Continuum for Plant and Soil Health |pages=181–196 |editor-last=Hakeem |editor-first=Khalid Rehman |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48771-3_11 |access-date=2024-08-02 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-48771-3_11 |isbn=978-3-030-48771-3 |last2=Murtaza |first2=Ghulam |last3=Anum |first3=Wajiha |last4=Samreen |first4=Tayyaba |last5=Sarfraz |first5=Muhammad |last6=Nazir |first6=Muhammad Zulqernain |editor2-last=Dar |editor2-first=Gowhar Hamid |editor3-last=Mehmood |editor3-first=Mohammad Aneesul |editor4-last=Bhat |editor4-first=Rouf Ahmad}} and synthesize phytohormones that promote growth, such as auxins and gibberellin. Another mechanism proposed is the AAC-deaminase production of Bacillus species, which prevents excessive increases in the synthesis of ethylene under various stress conditions.{{Cite journal |last1=Orozco-Mosqueda |first1=Ma. del Carmen |last2=Glick |first2=Bernard R. |last3=Santoyo |first3=Gustavo |date=2020-05-01 |title=ACC deaminase in plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB): An efficient mechanism to counter salt stress in crops |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944501320300173 |journal=Microbiological Research |volume=235 |pages=126439 |doi=10.1016/j.micres.2020.126439 |pmid=32097862 |issn=0944-5013}}

Benefits

Biofertilizers are cost-effective and ecofriendly in nature, and their continuous usage has been shown to enhance soil fertility.{{Cite journal |last1=Daniel |first1=Augustine Innalegwu |last2=Fadaka |first2=Adewale Oluwaseun |last3=Gokul |first3=Arun |last4=Bakare |first4=Olalekan Olanrewaju |last5=Aina |first5=Omolola |last6=Fisher |first6=Stacey |last7=Burt |first7=Adam Frank |last8=Mavumengwana |first8=Vuyo |last9=Keyster |first9=Marshall |last10=Klein |first10=Ashwil |date=June 2022 |title=Biofertilizer: The Future of Food Security and Food Safety |journal=Microorganisms |language=en |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=1220 |doi=10.3390/microorganisms10061220 |doi-access=free |issn=2076-2607 |pmc=9227430 |pmid=35744738}} Besides promoting growth by multiple mechanisms, biofertilizers produces substances suppressing phytopathogens, guarding plants from abiotic and biotic stresses and detoxification of belowground pollutants.{{Citation |last1=Mącik |first1=Mateusz |title=Biofertilizers in agriculture: An overview on concepts, strategies and effects on soil microorganisms |date=2020 |pages=31–87 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2020.02.001 |access-date=2024-08-02 |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/bs.agron.2020.02.001 |last2=Gryta |first2=Agata |last3=Frąc |first3=Magdalena|series=Advances in Agronomy |volume=162 |isbn=978-0-12-820767-3 }} Extensive use of agrochemicals in agricultural practices has been found to cause environmental disturbances and public health hazards affecting food security and sustainability in agriculture.{{Citation |last1=Punia |first1=Abhay |title=Evidence of the Toxic Potentials of Agrochemicals on Human Health and Biodiversity |date=2023 |work=One Health Implications of Agrochemicals and their Sustainable Alternatives |pages=105–135 |editor-last=Ogwu |editor-first=Matthew Chidozie |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3439-3_4 |access-date=2024-08-02 |place=Singapore |publisher=Springer Nature |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-99-3439-3_4 |isbn=978-981-99-3439-3 |last2=Dehal |first2=Lipsa |last3=Chauhan |first3=Nalini Singh |editor2-last=Chibueze Izah |editor2-first=Sylvester}} Biofertilizers offers an alternative solution for such agrochemicals, and show yield increase of up to about 10–40% by increasing protein contents, essential amino acids, and vitamins, and by nitrogen fixation.

Since a bio-fertilizer is technically living, it can symbiotically associate with plant roots. Involved microorganisms could readily and safely convert complex organic material into simple compounds, so that they are easily taken up by the plants. Microorganism function is in long duration, causing improvement of the soil fertility. It maintains the natural habitat of the soil. It increases crop yield by 20-30%, replaces chemical nitrogen and phosphorus by 30%, and stimulates plant growth. It can also provide protection against drought and some soil-borne diseases. It has also been shown that to produce a larger quantity of crops, biofertilizers with the ability of nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilizing would lead to the greatest possible effect.{{Cite journal|last1=Schütz|first1=Lukas|last2=Gattinger|first2=Andreas|last3=Meier|first3=Matthias|last4=Müller|first4=Adrian|last5=Boller|first5=Thomas|last6=Mäder|first6=Paul|last7=Mathimaran|first7=Natarajan|date=2018-01-12|title=Improving Crop Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency via Biofertilization—A Global Meta-analysis|journal=Frontiers in Plant Science|volume=8|pages=2204|doi=10.3389/fpls.2017.02204|issn=1664-462X|pmc=5770357|pmid=29375594|doi-access=free}} They advance shoot and root growth of many crops versus control groups.{{Cite journal|last1=Htwe|first1=Aung Zaw|last2=Moh|first2=Seinn Moh|last3=Soe|first3=Khin Myat|last4=Moe|first4=Kyi|last5=Yamakawa|first5=Takeo|date=February 2019|title=Effects of Biofertilizer Produced from Bradyrhizobium and Streptomyces griseoflavus on Plant Growth, Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation, Nutrient Uptake, and Seed Yield of Mung Bean, Cowpea, and Soybean|journal=Agronomy|language=en|volume=9|issue=2|pages=77|doi=10.3390/agronomy9020077|doi-access=free}} This can be important when implementing new seed growth.

Future Research

Biofertilizers have been shown to have varying effects in different environments,{{cite journal |last1=Brookshire |first1=E. N. J. |last2=Wurzburger |first2=Nina |last3=Currey |first3=Bryce |last4=Menge |first4=Duncan N. L. |last5=Oatham |first5=Michael P. |last6=Roberts |first6=Carlton |title=Symbiotic N fixation is sufficient to support net aboveground biomass accumulation in a humid tropical forest |journal=Scientific Reports |pages=7571 |date=20 May 2019|volume=9 |issue=1 |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-43962-5 |pmid=31110241 |pmc=6527854 |bibcode=2019NatSR...9.7571B }} and even within the same environment. This is something that many scientists have been working on, however there is no perfect solution at this time. They however, have been shown to have the most profound effects in drier climates. In the future, it is hoped that biofertilizers effects will be better controlled and regulated in all environments, as well as analysis targeted at specific species.

See also

References

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{{Plant nutrition}}

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Category:Organic fertilizers