Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
Role of Bio-fertilizers in Crop Improvement
Majeed-ul-Hassan Chesti, Tabasum N. Qadri, Asiya Hamid, Javed Qadri, 
Mohamed Mahgoub Azooz and Parvaiz Ahmad
Abstract Bio-fertilizers are cost effective, ecofriendly and renewable source of
plant nutrients to supplement chemical fertilizers in sustainable agricultural system.
Bio-fertilizers are preparations containing living cells of efficient nitrogen fixing,
P-solubilizing/mobilizing or cellulose decomposing microorganisms, which when
applied to seed or inoculated into the soil enhance availability of nutrients to plants
either working symbiotically/asymbiotically or through solubiization of soil nutri-
ents such as phosphorus or decomposition of complex materials. Bio-fertilizers are
gaining impetus due to the growing emphasis on maintenance of soil health, curtail
the environmental pollution and cut down on the use of chemicals in agriculture.
Bio-fertilizers are also ideal input for reducing the cost of cultivation and for prac-
ticing organic farming. In the present context of very high cost of chemical fertil-
izers, the bio-fertilizers assume special significance.
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