D. V. Pathak

Impact of bio-inoculants on seed germination and plant growth of guava (Psidium guajava)

An experiment was conducted to study the impact of bio-inoculants on seed germination and plant growth of guava at CCSHAU Regional Research Station, Bawal, during the period 2007 to 2008. The bioinoculants tested were Azotobacter chroococcum, phosphate solubulising bacteria (PSB), plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhiza. Their impact on seed germination, plant height and other plant growth parameters was studied in presence of farmyard manure (FYM) as well as vermicompost. During the 2007 period, maximum percent seed germination (34.2) was observed in the treatment having FYM + PGPR or FYM + A. chroococcum at 40 days (DAS); followed by PGPR (29.2) and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) (25.8) treatments. While during the 2008 period, highest seed germination (51.1%) was observed in the treatment having FYM + PGPR or FYM + A. chroococcum at 40 DAS; followed by the treatments having FYM + PGPR + PSB + A. chroococcum or vermicompost + PSB + A. chroococcum (48.9%). Number of leaves per plant observed at 150 DAS were maximum in the treatment having FYM + VAM (18.8). Plant height at 150 DAS was maximum in FYM treatment having all the three bio-inoculants (31.5 cm). However, these values were quite comparable to each other in FYM as well as in vermicompost filled plastic bags.

Microbial Inoculants as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides

Bioinoculants are ecofriendly as they don’t have any adverse effect on soil fauna and flora. These bioinoculants can also be used as biopesticides which do not have any residual effect on crop products. But the main problem with the bioinoculants is its quality, as the private agencies which supply various biofertilizers and biopesticides don’t care for their quality parameters. The availability of good quality bioinoculants to the farmers is main hurdle in their success. There is lack of co-ordination between the extension workers and scientists. Due attention is needed regarding Azotobacter, Azolla, Acetobacter, Trichoderma, Bacillus thuriengensis, and Azospirillum and their application in various cereal and vegetable crops. These biofertilizers should be integrated with organic manures and chemical fertilizers to enhance the soil organic carbon and maintain sustainability in field and horticultural crops.

Biofertilizer Application in Horticultural Crops

India is the second largest producer of horticultural crops in the world. But the productivity and quality need to be enhanced to fulfil the demand of increasing population. It needs ecofriendly technology which can increase production for ensuring national food security and sustainable production system. Excessive use of non-renewable exhaustive petroleum product-based chemicals in horticultural production system and their residual effect on soil, environment and human health is very harmful. Ecofriendly, cost-effective and organic-based inputs such as botanical pesticides, biofertilizers, FYM, vermicompost, biogas slurry, disease and pest-resistant varieties in cultivation of horticultural crops will be safeguarding soil health and quality production. The use of various bioinoculants like Azotobacter, Azospirillum and VAM along with PGPRs not only will supplement various nutrients in the soil but also improve the quality and quantity of fruits.

Microbial Pesticides: Development, Prospects and Popularization in India

India has a vast potential for microbial pesticides, as our economy is agriculture based; however, its adoption needs education for their maximum gains. The scientists should also explore all the possibilities for popularization and constraints in this emerging field. Extensive and inappropriate pesticide use has caused pest resistance to major groups of pesticides, resurgence of secondary pests, high pesticide residue in the produce and decimation of natural enemies. Their excessive use has caused adverse effects on human beings and environment. An eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides is biopesticides, which falls into three classes. These include microbial pesticides, plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs) and biochemical pesticides. The microbial pesticides comprise of bacteria, fungi, protozoans and viruses. This chapter also includes the genetic improvement of microbial pesticides, use of microbial pesticides in India, role of microbial pesticides in bio-intensive integrated pest management (IPM) and their advantages and disadvantages.