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Biofertilizers - Biofertilizers are defined as biologically active products or microbial inoculants of bacteria, algae and fungi (separately or in combination), which may help biological nitrogen fixation for the benefit of plants.
Biofertilizers also include organic fertilizers (manure, etc.), which are rendered in an available form due to the interaction of micro-organisms or due to their association with plants. Biofertilizers thus include the following:
(i) symbiotic nitrogen fixers Rhizobium spp.;
(ii) asymbiotic free nitrogen fixers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, etc.);

(iii) algae biofertilizers (blue green algae or BGA in association with Azolla);
(iv) phosphate solubilising bacteria;
(v) mycorrhizae;
(vi) organic fertilizers.
The need for the use of biofertilizers has arisen, primarily for two reasons.
First, because increase in the use of fertilizers leads to increased crop productivity, second, because increased usage of chemical fertilizer leads to damage in soil texture and raises other environmental problems. Therefore, the use of biofertilizers is both economical and environment friendly. The pragmatic approach will be to develop the integrated nutrient supply system involving a combination of the use of chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers. India is not self sufficient in fertilizer production.

An estimated capital investment of Rs. 7,000 crores was needed by the end of Seventh Five Year Plan period to achieve self sufficiency. Realizing the  importance of biofertilizers in supplementing the use of chemical fertilizers, the Government of India had launched the 'National Project on Development and use of Biofertilizers’ during the Sixth Five Year Plan.

Under this 7 project, one national centre and six regional centres and 40 BGA production centres have been established. These centres will produce 800 tonnes of Rhizobia and 600 tonnes of BGA annually.

 
 

 
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