scholarly journals Comparative Advantage of Using Biofertilizers in Indian Agroecosystems: An Analysis from the Perspectives of Stakeholders

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-36
Author(s):  
Hasrat Arjjumend ◽  
Konstantia Koutouki ◽  
Simon Neufeld

The use of excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides have decreased soil microbial life and upset the balance between soil microbes and plants, negatively impacting plant nutrition, production and soil health. Biofertilizers hold the potential to revive soil biology and increase farmers’ current agricultural productivity, while at the same time contributing to the soil’s ability to produce more in the future. This article is part of a larger Université de Montréal study conducted with the support of Mitacs and Earth Alive Clean Technologies. The responses of farmers using and not using biofertilizers, manufacturers or suppliers of biofertilizers, and research and development scientists are captured to build cases of how microbial products (biologicals) prove to be advantageous when applied in field crops. The agronomic advantage of biofertilizers compared to conventional chemical fertilizers is well proved biologically and in economic terms. The farmers interviewed stated their preference of biofertilizers over chemical fertilizers. However, production and distribution of biofertilizers are inadequate compared to the demand for them. Studies need to be pursued to understand reasons for the supply gaps and the slow growth of biofertilizers in the agriculture sector of India and methods of linking them to farmers’ preferences in order to advance protections of soil and plants in India.

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid F.A.El-G. Mosa ◽  
Lidia Sas Paszt ◽  
Mateusz Frąc ◽  
Paweł Trzciński

The excessive use of mineral fertilizers causes many negative consequences for the environment as well as potentially dangerous effects of chemical residues in plant tissues on the health of human and animal consumers. Bio-fertilizers are formulations of beneficial microorganisms, which upon application can increase the availability of nutrients by their biological activity and help to improve soil health. Microbes involved in the formulation of bio-fertilizers not only mobilize N and P but mediate the process of producing crops and foods naturally. This method avoids the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms to influence the growth of crops. In addition to their role in enhancing the growth of the plants, biofertilizers can act as biocontrol agents in the rhizosphere at the same time. Biofertilizers are very safe for human, animal and environment. The use of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Pseudomonas, Acetobacter, Burkholderia, Bacillus, Paenibacillus and some members of the Enterobacteriaceae is gaining worldwide importance and acceptance and appears to be the trend for the future.


Author(s):  
Hashmath Inayath Hussain ◽  
Naga Kasinadhuni ◽  
Tony Arioli

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of seaweed extract (SWE) made from the brown algae Durvillaea potatorum and Ascophyllum nodosum on plants and soil. The application of SWE to soil growing tomato plants showed dual effects. SWE comprehensively improved tomato plant growth (flower clusters, flower number, fruit number, root length, root and shoot dry weight, SPAD) and increased plant productivity (yield and quality). Similarly, SWE application effected soil biology at the soil root zone by increasing total bacterial count and available soil nitrogen and impacting bacterial community diversity with an increase in certain bacterial families linked to soil health. A broader understanding of the effects of SWE on the plant-soil ecosystem may offer breakthrough approaches for sustainable food production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 107894
Author(s):  
Yangquanwei Zhong ◽  
Jihong Hu ◽  
Qiongmei Xia ◽  
Shilai Zhang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Wenxing Li ◽  
Peihua Zhang ◽  
Hao Qiu ◽  
Cornelis A. M. Van Gestel ◽  
Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 753-761
Author(s):  
Sachin Kanta Rautaray ◽  
Rachana Dubey ◽  
Sachidulal Raychaudhuri ◽  
Sanatan Pradhan ◽  
Sheelabhadra Mohanty ◽  
...  

Annually 500 M t organic wastes are produced in India from the agriculture sector. Transportation of bulky organic manures for centralized collection, processing and distribution to farms is cost prohibitive. Hence, recycling of agricultural wastes using vermicompost technology at the farm level is a practical way of managing agriwaste for meeting the plant nutrient requirement. Our experience with a 1.584 ha farm for three years (2015–2016 to 2017–2018) revealed that 8.1 t vermicompost was produced in three batches from 24 t agriwastes produced within the farm area. The system productivity by recycling these farm generated agriwastes and run-off water was 18.05 t (≈11.4 t ha−1) rice equivalent yield which was higher by 2.6 times as compared to rice fallow (4.46 t ha−1). Also, the net return from this system (Indian rupees 70141 ha−1) was higher by 2.3 times, after considering the fixed cost towards construction of a water recycling pond. An increase in carbon stock in soil for the four years study period was 0.66 Mg ha−1 year−1 with the agriwaste recycling system under organic nutrition. For the inorganic fertilizer plot, the increase in carbon stock was 0.53 Mg ha−1 year−1. A decrease in bulk density from 1.56 to 1.46 Mg m−3, increase in water holding capacity from 0.43 to 0.52 cm3 cm−3 and increase in available P and K content in soil from 38.0 and 174.7 kg ha−1 to 45.8 and 186.5 kg ha−1, respectively, were noted. Thus, recycling of agricultural waste at the farm level is useful in improving soil health and crop productivity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyu Li ◽  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Laura S. Bailey ◽  
Manasi N. Kamat ◽  
Kari B. Basso

AbstractThe biochemical composition of organic fertilizers largely determines their nutrient supply characteristics following soil application as well as their potential impact on soil microbial communities. Yet, limited information is available regarding the biochemical composition of organic fertilizers derived from different nutrient sources. Here, we qualitatively analyzed the presence and abundance of proteins, lipids, and metabolites in a liquid fish fertilizer (LFF) product and a type of granular organic fertilizer (GOF) commonly used in organic vegetable production, using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Our results suggest that the presence and abundance of proteins, lipids, and metabolites differ greatly between GOF and LFF. The qualitative analysis shows LFF as a rich source of metabolites, while complex proteins and long-chain saturated fatty acids are dominant in GOF. The degree of biochemical composition complexity may help explain the varying impacts of different types of organic fertilizers on nutrient availability, soil health, and environmental quality.


Author(s):  
Eli Lee Carter

This chapter focuses on the pay-television sector. Though it first arrived to Brazil in 1990, for the better part of two decades Brazilian pay-television was largely characterized by slow growth, access limited to the country’s most affluent classes, and a programming-grid chock-full of content imported from the United States. The Pay-TV Law’s establishment of quotas for locally produced content, however, has helped to carve out a space for the production and distribution of Brazilian content. With this in mind, the chapter analyzes 1 contra todos (1 Against All, Fox Brasil) and Lama dos dias (Mud of the Days, Canal Brasil). In addition to satisfying the content quotas outlined in the Pay-TV Law, both series benefited from government financing mechanisms, were directed by celebrated Brazilian filmmakers, and explicitly, albeit in distinct ways, contemplate the nation and Brazilianness.


Author(s):  
Upasana Dutta

The agriculture sector is reeling under the pressures of population, land and water scarcity, diseases, disasters and the most challenging of them all, climate change. Although climate change is yet to be charged with affecting agriculture, but in recent years trends of change have been witnessed in various crop production, with a hint of climate's role in it. With the advent of technology, these trends have become easier to analyse and in certain cases predict too. Information Technology (ICT) tools like Geoinformatics are playing a profound role in the agriculture sector and is helping to understand and assess the various factors affecting the growth of crops along with finding out the alternative suitability parameters for better production and distribution. The main aim of this chapter on agro-geoinformatics is to look into this linkage between technology usage and better potato production during adverse conditions.


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