ICAR technologies Biofertilizers

Soil is a dynamic living entity wherein several self regulatory
mechanisms are operated through the constituent living organisms.
Microorganisms play a major role in keeping soils live through its
ecosystem services like solubilization of minerals, recycling of organic
matter, bioremediation and soil formation. Post green revolution,
self sufficiency in food grain production was achieved through
the use of high yielding varieties responsive to chemical fertilizers.
However, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers has resulted
in deterioration of soil health leading to shift in emphasis towards
sustainable agriculture. Use of biofertilizers for nutrient management
is an integral component of sustainable agriculture.
Biofertilizers contain different plant associated microorganisms
that enhance plant growth and improve yield and quality of the
produce through supply of adequate nutrients. Nitrogen fixers,
P-solubilizers and mobilizers are the traditionally known biofertilizers.
With the advancement of science, new groups of biofertilizers kept on
adding to the list, a few to name are K-solubilizers, Zn-solubilizers
and consortia supplying different nutrients. In addition to supply of
nutrients to crop plants, many of these microbes help the plants to
tolerate abiotic stresses.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research recognized the
importance of Biofertilizers and started AICRP on Biological Nitrogen
fixation in 1976, which was renamed as All India Network Project on
Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers in 2008. These coordinated projects
and the constituent institutes of ICAR have developed a large number
of biofertilizers for different field and horticultural crops. In 2014, the
Govt. of India initiated National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture
(NMSA) where use of biofertilizers is being promoted to improve soil
health. Though a lot of efforts have been made on the development and popularization of biofertilizers, the usage of biofertilizers is not
at the expected level. The distribution of production and usage across
the country is also skewed with south zone dominating both in terms
of production and consumption of biofertilizers. Popularization of
biofertilizers developed by ICAR is the immediate concern.
This compendium entitled ?ICAR Technologies: Biofertilizers
for Sustainable Crop Production? is a compilation of validated
biofertilizers developed by constituent ICAR institutes over the
decades. I am hopeful that this publication would be useful for
researchers, scientists, students and other stakeholders interested in
this area. It would also help to popularize the biofertilizer technologies
developed by ICAR.