Major types of biofertilizers and their functions
Biofertilizers are grouped by their specific nutrient-supplying microbial strains.
Common agricultural formulations include:
- Rhizobium: Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria tailored for legume crops (pulses, groundnut, soybean), forming root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen.
- Azotobacter and Azospirillum: Free-living and associative nitrogen fixers beneficial for non-leguminous crops like wheat, paddy, maize, and vegetables.
- Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB): Strains like Bacillus and Pseudomonas that convert insoluble soil phosphates into plant-absorbable orthophosphate forms.
- Potash Mobilizing Bacteria (KMB) & Zinc Solubilizing Bacteria (ZSB): Mobilize insoluble minerals present in soil clays for crop uptake.
- Mycorrhizae (VAM): Fungal networks that associate with plant roots, expanding root absorption surface area for water and phosphorus.
Application methods for field crops
Microbial cultures must be applied carefully to ensure bacterial viability.
Standard application techniques:
- Seed treatment: Mix biofertilizer culture with cooled jaggery solution (sticker) and coat seeds gently before drying in shade.
- Seedling root dip: Dissolve microbial suspension in water and immerse roots of vegetable or paddy seedlings for 20 to 30 minutes prior to transplanting.
- Soil application: Mix biofertilizer with well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM) or vermicompost and broadcast during final field preparation.
Handling precautions and organic schemes
Store biofertilizers away from direct sunlight, chemical fertilizers, and synthetic pesticides. The Government of India promotes biofertilizers through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and the National Mission on Natural Farming under agricoop.nic.in.
Official source
Check the latest rules, benefits and forms here. KisanPe is an independent platform and is not a government website.
National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is the main function of biofertilizers?
They provide living microorganisms that fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize bound phosphorus, and mobilize soil nutrients for natural plant uptake.
Can biofertilizers completely replace chemical fertilizers?
They supplement plant nutrition, typically reducing synthetic nitrogen and phosphatic fertilizer requirements by 20% to 25% while building long-term soil health.
Why should biofertilizers not be exposed to direct sunlight?
Excessive heat and ultraviolet rays kill the living microbial bacterial cells, neutralizing their bio-efficacy.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
More Fertilizers & Crop Nutrition guides
Ask Sakhi AI in your language, check live mandi prices or plan a loan with KisanPe tools.