**11. Advantages of biofertilizers**


**283**

ent impoverished soil.

*Sustainable Development of Horticulture and Forestry through Bio-Inoculants*

• It helps to improve the seed germination and induces the healthy seed emergence due to production of growth promoting hormones, gibberellins and cytokinin-like biologically active substances. Biofertilizers promote better root formation in trees for efficient absorption and assimilation of water and

• Biofertilizers are involved in the litter decomposition and the breakdown of minerals into available form to plants. It directly facilitates the function of rhizoids in terms of absorption and translocation of minerals and water.

• Biofertilizers do not pollute the soil, whereas excess application of chemical fertilizers creates soil pollution. Biofertilizers are effective in promoting and maintaining the soil fertility which helps a better balance in the plantation forest ecosystem in terms of nutrient availability and cycling of

• Due to the strong colonization of biocontrol microorganism and their secretory substances, the tree plants cultivated under this pattern will exhibit a strong resistance against an array of infectious disease caused by plant

**11.1 Limitations of bio-fertilizer utilization in forestry and horticulture**

Apart from the advantages, biofertilizers have certain limitations. Lack of awareness on benefits of bio inoculants among the farmers and tree growers. Adequate availability and quality assurance of bioinoculants are being the limiting factors. Competition between native and introduced microbial population in the cultivated field also identified as a limiting factor. Hence, a preliminary analysis on the cultivable land about the native microflora, physico-chemical parameters is

Bio-inoculants are renewable, cost effective, eco-friendly and economically viable population of beneficial microorganisms providing an alternate source of plant nutrients, thus increasing farm income by providing extra yields and reducing input cost. Bio-inoculants increase crop yield by 20–30%, replace synthetic fertilizers of N & P by 25%. Stimulate plant growth, activate soil biologically, restore natural fertility and provide protection against drought and some soil borne plant pathogens. Application of Bio-fertilizers in combined form in Horticulture and Forestry will play an important role in improving the soil fertility by supply of macro and micronutrients, organic carbon, accumulation of soil enzymes, suppression of plant pathogen by bioactive substances. This will have direct impact on socio-economy of tree growing farmers, maintain sustainability in natural soil ecosystem, wood and food crops availability in future. Therefore, the development of more efficient and sustainable agriculture strategies, guarantied food supply for an expanding world population and minimizing damage to the environment is one of the greatest challenges for humankind today. It is inferred that under appropriate management, the use of more efficient bioinoculants, co-inoculation with other bioinoculants lead to an increased growth and biomass of tree species in nutri-

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87148*

nutrients.

nutrients.

pathogens.

**12. Conclusion**

essential to overcome such limitations.

*Sustainable Development of Horticulture and Forestry through Bio-Inoculants DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87148*


#### **11.1 Limitations of bio-fertilizer utilization in forestry and horticulture**

Apart from the advantages, biofertilizers have certain limitations. Lack of awareness on benefits of bio inoculants among the farmers and tree growers. Adequate availability and quality assurance of bioinoculants are being the limiting factors. Competition between native and introduced microbial population in the cultivated field also identified as a limiting factor. Hence, a preliminary analysis on the cultivable land about the native microflora, physico-chemical parameters is essential to overcome such limitations.

#### **12. Conclusion**

*Sustainable Crop Production*

can be dipped in nursery mother bed.

**10.6 Inoculation in the nursery seedlings**

**10.7 Inoculation of out plantings**

**11. Advantages of biofertilizers**

cheaper than chemical fertilizers.

and 10<sup>−</sup><sup>8</sup>

P2O5 and K2O ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

load of 10<sup>−</sup><sup>9</sup>

repeatedly.

Two gram of lignite based culture (108

Ten grams of lignite based culture (108

powered farm yard manure or sand for easy application.

and roots of seedlings can be dipped in it before planting.

polysaccharides and also control plant pathogens.

Ten percent sugar or gum arabic solution or rice porridge is to be prepared to serve as a sticker for culture cells applied to seeds. This solution is to be sprinkled on required seeds and then the seeds spread on a polythene sheet and mixed uniformly. The peat based culture is sprinkled uniformly over the sticker-coated seeds and mixed simultaneously. After treatment the seeds are air dried in 1 h then the seed

In case of transplanted seedlings, the seedlings from the nursery beds are

seedlings a week after transplanting. In the case of AM 5 g of vermiculate based culture can be used. The cultures may be mixed together and applied near the root zone. If necessary, the inoculant may be made bulk by mixing with the finely

to be planted in the field directly from the mother bed, in the form of naked root seedlings. Otherwise, 200 g of lignite based culture can be mixed with 10 l of water,

• Biofertilizers have number of advantages than synthetic fertilizers. Bio fertilizers can facilitate not only supply of nutrients, but also produces vitamins and plant growth hormones. They prevent soil erosion by producing capsular

• Biofertilizers, will be isolated from the rhizosphere soil of host plant hence huge amount need not be spent for mother culture. It can be cultivated under normal laboratory condition using conventional media and fermentors within short span of time. Production method is very simple and production cost is

• Chemical fertilizers are required in huge quantity for land application. The physical optimum levels for getting the maximum grain yield for the medium duration rice hybrid CORH2 was found to be 151:66:57 kg N,

inoculum of Azospirillum and phosphobacterium contain with a population

of soil [22]. Hence, very less quantity is sufficient and it may get multiplied into many fold as the optimum environmental conditions in the nursery and field. As the propagules multiply in the field they need not be applied

[115]. But in case of biofertilizers, 1 g of carrier based

and approximately 12,500 infective propagule/10 g

cfu/g) is added to rhizosphere of the

cfu/g) is required per seedling which are

uprooted and tipped in a suspension of biofertilizers before planting.

**10.4 Seed treatment**

**10.5 Dipping seedlings**

**282**

Bio-inoculants are renewable, cost effective, eco-friendly and economically viable population of beneficial microorganisms providing an alternate source of plant nutrients, thus increasing farm income by providing extra yields and reducing input cost. Bio-inoculants increase crop yield by 20–30%, replace synthetic fertilizers of N & P by 25%. Stimulate plant growth, activate soil biologically, restore natural fertility and provide protection against drought and some soil borne plant pathogens. Application of Bio-fertilizers in combined form in Horticulture and Forestry will play an important role in improving the soil fertility by supply of macro and micronutrients, organic carbon, accumulation of soil enzymes, suppression of plant pathogen by bioactive substances. This will have direct impact on socio-economy of tree growing farmers, maintain sustainability in natural soil ecosystem, wood and food crops availability in future. Therefore, the development of more efficient and sustainable agriculture strategies, guarantied food supply for an expanding world population and minimizing damage to the environment is one of the greatest challenges for humankind today. It is inferred that under appropriate management, the use of more efficient bioinoculants, co-inoculation with other bioinoculants lead to an increased growth and biomass of tree species in nutrient impoverished soil.

*Sustainable Crop Production*
