Lucknow: A microbial biofertiliser, developed by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, reduces expense of using chemical fertilisers by up to 40% and enhances plant growth by 20 to 25% compared to other fertilisers.
"Chemical fertilisers, though they increase crop yields, can affect soil microbial communities negatively. Soil microbial activity is crucial for nutrient availability and crop productivity, hence, we came up with microbial biofertiliser," said Ajit Kumar Shasany, NBRI director.
He added that microbial biofertilisers were nutrient-rich biological fertilisers containing microorganisms, such as bacteria, algae and fungi, to promote plant growth. They are a more environment-friendly alternative to chemical fertilisers, which can harm soil and living organisms. Hence, the institute developed stress-tolerant biofertilisers to enhance plant growth, improve soil health and increase crop yield. These products reduce need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides, benefiting environment and farmers.
"In last three years (2021-2024), 22.72 lakh packets (200g each; in Rabi and Kharif seasons) of biofertilisers were produced and distributed to UP farmers through state agriculture department, which accounts for more than 9.0 lakh acres of land coverage for different legumes and cereal crops," said Shasany, adding that results of NBRI's biofertilisers were overwhelming, benefiting farmers and society.
"The technology developed by NBRI has advantages over competitors due to its focus on understanding the relationship between microbes, plants and environmental stresses. These biofertilisers are compatible with sustainable agricultural practices and can be used alongside chemical fertilisers," said NBRI senior principal scientist Puneet Singh Chauhan.
He said field trials showed effectiveness and cost-efficiency compared to commercial products. "It eliminates expense and use of chemical fertiliser by 40% and boosts plant growth by 25%. We conducted trials in Odisha and 90% farmers were happy with the results and opted for it. These biofertilisers were successfully used for a wide range of crops, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds and horticultural crops.