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6. Promotion of Biofertilizers in Punjab.

Punjab soils have been under continuous stress because of extreme climatic conditions. As a result, the activities, growth and reproduction of various soil microorganisms get affected. The intensive wheat-rice cropping system along with excessive use of agro-chemicals further adversely affects the microbial ecology and hence the nutrient cycle in nature. The impact of these practices has been decline in number of effective and infective Rhizobia. Hence, it has been concluded that it is necessary to inoculate the seeds of leguminous crops with Rhizobium each year in order to build up population of these nitrogen fixing bacteria in soil.

The council had sponsored a project titled , “ Improvement of crop yield through biofertilizers in Punjab” to Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 1992-93 for a duration of 3 years. Based on the encouraging results obtained under the project, the council approached Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India for getting a project sanctioned for further work on this aspect.

DBT, Govt. of India identified council as one of their six Centres through out the country for implementation of “Mission Mode Project on Technology Development and Demonstration of Biofertilizers-Rhizobium in collaboration with PAU & Department of Agriculture” in 1993-94 for a duration of 4 years. Another component of this project titled ‘ Refinement and Validation of Technology under Mission Mode project on Biofertilizers” was also sanctioned by DBT in 1997-98 for a duration of 1 year.

Extensive nodulation survey of various Rabi and Kharif legumes being grown in Punjab showed that our soils have poor to moderate population of Rhizobia indicating the need for regular application of Rhizobium biofertilizers to these crops.

Rhizobium inocuation has been found to enhance moong yield by 12- 68% as shown by research trials. The yields of inoculated plots with no additional nitrogen fertilizer were found to be at par with that of added chemical fertilizer, showing saving of 12.5 kg N/ha. In case of soybean, inoculation enhanced the grain yield by 40-94% when no chemical nitrogen was applied. Further, Rhizobila inoculation was also found to enhance the availability of soil phosphorus to soybean and gram crops.

Under mass production studies, it was observed that the generation time of Rhizobium isolates varies from 2-4.5 hours and the population of 1010 cfu (colony forming units/ml) reaches within 30 hr of incubation. Fermentation based production of Rhizobium biofertilizer has been standardized and used for their production . Demonstration trails at various locations throughout Punjab have shown the benefits of use of Rhizobium biofertilizers for enhancing yield of legume crops and have build the confidence for using these biofertilizers in the minds of research and extension workers and farming community. The extension workers of Department of Agriculture, KRIBHCO, IFCO and thousands of state farmers were trained about use and importance of Rhizobium biofertilizers. Awareness material on biofertilizer (pamphlets and posters) were published in English and its Punjabi version was also prepared which was published and mass disseminated by Department of Agriculture, Punjab.

As a result of these measures taken in research, development and popularization, the consumption of biofertilizers has tremendously increased in Punjab state. The technology has been transferred to Directorate of Agriculture, Punjab who has started production and distribution of biofertilizers through their extensive extension network throughout Punjab.

Contact Person: Dr. J.K Arora, jkarora@pscst.com