Author : M. N. Jha¹ and A. N. Prasad¹.  

Address : (1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences & Humanities, Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 848125, Bihar. M. N. Jha, Email: mani_raksha@yahoo.com, Phone: +91-6274-240412, Fax: +91-6274-240266).

Abstract : Efficacy of New Inexpensive Cyanobacterial Biofertilizer Including its Shelf-life.

Journal : World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology,

Volume No. : Volume 22(1)

Publish Year : 2006

Page No. : 73 - 79

Main Data : Four cyanobacterial inoculants all significantly increased grain and straw yield of rice either alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer. A saving of 25 kg N ha^-1 can be attained through cyanobacterial fertilization. Tobacco waste-based cyanobacterial biofertilizer was best in performance. Cyanobacterial acetylene reducing activity in vivo varied from 144 to 255 μmol C₂H₄ m^-2 h^-1 in different treatments, being highest for tobacco-based cyanobacterial biofertilizer integrated with 50% chemical N. The nutrient balance for total N, available N, total P and available P was found positive in biofertilizer- and chemical fertilizer-treated plots. The total and available K showed negative balance in all the treatments. The shelf-life of cyanobacterial biofertilizer can be augmented by selecting translucent packing material, dry mixing and paddy straw as a carrier. Dry mixing and a mixing ratio of 50:50 (carrier:cyanobacteria) gave better inoculum loading and shelf-life. Decrease in cyanobacterial population was least in dried cyanobacterial flacks, indicating a possibility of developing cyanobacterial biofertilizer without carrier mixing at the time of production.Keywords  Cyanobacteria - inoculant - nutrient balance - paddy yield - shelf-life