Biofertilizers and Organic Farming

Increasing population levels on a near stabilized agricultural land places a heavy burden on the soil source—particularly its nutrient supplying power. Chemical fertilizers have come to increase the output of agricultural product and to meet ever increasing demand of human population. The problem is further compounded in several areas due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers which resulted into considerable deterioration in the quality of indigenous soil. Intensive agriculture with the use of chemical fertilizers in large amount has, no doubt, resulted in manifold increase in the productivity of farm commodities but the adverse effect of these chemicals are clearly visible on soil structure, microflora, quality of water, food and fodder. Organic farming has emerged as the only answer to bring sustainability to agriculture and environment. Organic farming is a farming integration of biological, cultural and natural inputs including integrated diseases and pest management practices. Integrated plant nutrition can be best if it is practised on scientific facts, local conditions and microeconmics. We hope this publication will create a balanced, objective and science based appreciation for meeting the nutrient needs of agriculture. This book has been written for agricultural planners, soil scientists, biologists, microbiologists, students, teachers, fertilizer industry, personnel research and development units, organisation engaged in biofertilizer production, training centres, all those interested in the efficient use and recycling of wastes, resource management and sustainable farming. Contents Chapter 1: Integrated Plant Nutrition Systems; Chapter 2: Organic Manures: Their Nature and Characteristics; Chapter 3: Livestock and Human Wastes: Characteristics and Value; Chapter 4: Potential of Organic Materials and Plant Nutrients; Chapter 5: Preparation, Processing and Preservation of Organic Manures; Chapter 6: Biogas Potential from Livestock Wastes and Human Excreta; Chapter 7: Response of Crops to Organic Manures; Chapter 8: Response of Crops to Oragnic Materials in Salt Affected Soils; Chapter 9: Nitrogen Fixation; Chapter 10: Mycorrhizae in Agriculture; Chapter 11: Fertilizers with Organics and Biofertilizers; Chapter 12: Bulky Organic Manures and Crop Residues; Chapter 13: Green Manuring: Nutrient Potentials; Chapter 14: Biological and Industrial Wastes: Source of Plant Nutrients; Chapter 15: Role of Biofertilizers in Crop Production; Chapter 16: Biofertilizers for Flooded Rice Ecosystem; Chapter 17: Production, Distribution and Promotion of Biofertilizers; Chapter 18: Effect of Biofertilizers on Growth; Chapter 19: Biofertilizer: A Supplementary Nutrient; Chapter 20: Bioinoculation and Biofertilizer on Growth; Chapter 21: Significance and Azospirillum brassilense and Pseudomonas on Growth; Chapter 22: Application of Mycorrhizae and Rhizobium on Biomass Production; Chapter 23: Effect of VAM Fungi on Banana Plants; Chapter 24: Mungbean with S