A Summary of the Status of Biofertilizers

A Summary of the Status of Biofertilizers - January, 2011

This collection of reports summarizes the status of use, knowledge base, and outlook for biofertilizers in various regions of the world prepared by the staff of IPNI. The majority of the content is available on line via the hyperlinks included in the summary document. For additional information, contact either the researchers listed in the various sources or the staff of IPNI whose contact information is available on the IPNI website.

Summary Document:

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Supporting Documents:

01 Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria as biofertilizers
J. Kevin Vessey∗ Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada

Abstract: Plant and Soil 255: 571–586, 2003.
Numerous species of soil bacteria which flourish in the rhizosphere of plants, but which may grow in, on, or around plant tissues, stimulate plant growth by a plethora of mechanisms. These bacteria are collectively known as PGPR (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria). The search for PGPR and investigation of their modes of action are increasing at a rapid pace as efforts are made to exploit them commercially as biofertilizers. After an initial clarification of the term biofertilizers and the nature of associations between PGPR and plants (i.e., endophytic versus rhizospheric), this review focuses on the known, the putative, and the speculative modes-of-action of PGPR. These modes of action include fixing N2, increasing the availability of nutrients in the rhizosphere, positively influencing root growth and morphology, and promoting other beneficial plant–microbe symbioses. The combination of these modes of actions in PGPR is also addressed, as well as the challenges facing the more widespread utilization of PGPR as biofertilizers.

02 Determination of Plant Hormones in Fertilizers by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode Array Detection: Method Development and Single-Laboratory Validation
GRAZIA LAURA GAMBINO, PIETRO PAGANO, MONICA SCORDINO, LEONARDO SABATINO, EMANUELE SCOLLO, PASQUALINO TRAULO, and GIACOMO GAGLIANO, Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, Ispettorato Centrale per il Controllo della Qualità dei Prodotti, Agroalimentari, Laboratorio di Catania, Via Varese 45, 95123 Catania, Italy

Abstract: JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 91, NO. 6, 2008
A simple and reliable high-performance liquid chromatographic method that uses photodiode array detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of 12 native and synthetic plant hormones, i.e., plant growth regulators (PGRs), in fertilizers, such as 1-naphthol, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, 4-(3-indolyl)butyric acid, dichlorprop, (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid, -naphthaleneacetic acid, 1-naphthaleneacetamide, -naphthoxyacetic acid, and thidiazuron. The method was experimentally validated for routine regulatory application, and the following analytical parameters were assessed for
all PGRs studied: linearity; specificity; precision (relative standard deviation) and accuracy, both measured at 3 concentration levels (0.1, 0.05, and 0.01%, w/w); ruggedness; limit of detection; and limit of quantification. Results were satisfactory for all method validation parameters tested and for all PGRs studied, demonstrating the suitability of the method for the determination of PGRs in fertilizers. The uncertainty of measurement was also estimated at 3 concentration levels for all PGRs by using the approach of the International Organization for Standardization, described in its Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. The method was applied to 20 samples of liquid fertilizer with declared biostimulant properties.

03 Promises Promises: Can Biostimulants Deliver?




04 Humate-Based Biostimulants Do Not Consistently Increase Growth of Container-Grown Turkish Hazelnut
Matt Kelting, J. Roger Harris, Jody Fanelli, Bonnie Appleton, and Alex Niemiera, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Horticulture, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Abstract: Environ. Hort. 15(4):197-199. December 1997
Humate-based products have been aggressively marketed to nursery producers as biostimulants which increase plant growth. Reports of their effect ~n container-grown trees in organic substrate are few. We tested four distinct types of biostimulants on top and root growth of Turkish hazelnut (Corylus colurna L.), grown in containers with pine-bark substrate. Treatments included: 1) an untreated contol; 2) humate, applied as a dry topdress; 3) humate, formulated as a wettable powder and applied as a substrate drench; 4) humate, applied as a pre-plant root soak; 5) humate, to which various purported root growth-promoting additives had been added, also applied as a root soak. All treatments were tested within low, medium, and high fertilizer application regimes. No treatment increased top growth compare~ to.untreated trees, and the root-soak treatments had the lowest top growth. At high and low fertilizer application rates, root length was Similar for all treatments except for root-soak treatments, which had lower root lengths. At the medium fertilizer rate, root length was greatest for trees treated with granular humate applied as a dry topdressing and lowest for trees treated with root soaks.

05 Biofertilizers in Brazil




06 Soybean Rizobia Inoculation Has a Positive Contribution to Argentine Grain Production
Piccinetti, Carlos Fabián 1; Díaz-Zorita, Martín2; Arias, Norma3; Ventimiglia, Luis4 and Perticari, Alejandro1, (1)IMYZA, INTA, Castelar, Argentina; (2)CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (3)INTA, Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina; (4)INTA, 9 de julio, Argentina




07/08 Enhancing inputs from BNF in smallholder farming systems




09 Biofertilizers in Central Russia region




10 Efficiency of biofertilizers in Southern and Eastern Russia




11 All India Capacity for Biofertilizers




12 Promoting Bio-fertilizers in Indian Agriculture






13 South Asia: Need of Biofertilizer in India




14 Influence of bio-fertilizers on the biomass yield and nutrient content in Stevia rebaudiana Bert. grown in Indian subtropics
Kuntal Das1*, Raman Dang2, Thippenahalli Narayanappa Shivananda3, Nazım Sekeroglu4, 1St. John’s College of Pharmacy, 6, R.P.C Lay out, Vijaya Nagar, Bangalore-40, India. 2Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Opp. Lalbagh Main Gate, Bangalore-27, India. 3Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore-80, India., 4Ordu University Agricultural Faculty, Field Crops Department, 52200, Ordu- Turkey., Accepted 27 July, 2007

Abstract: Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 1(1), pp. 005-008, August 2007
A pot culture experiment was conducted at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghata, Bangalore, India to study the effect of bio-fertilizers on the biomass yield and NPK content in Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). The results how the yield and NPK content in stevia plant has been found to be increased initially and thereafter, the amount of the same decreased with the progress of plant growth up to 60 days with the combined treatment of bio-fertilizers rather than individual treatment. This is due to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (symbiotic and asymbiotic) and transform native soil nutrients likely phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron, sulfur from the non-usable (fixed) to usable form and
decompose organic wastes through biological processes which in turn releases nutrients in a form which can be easily assimilated by plants resulting in an increase in biomass production of stevia plant.

15 India's Bio Fertilizer Firms on High as West Stresses Organic Foods




16 Issues related to development of biofertilizers in China




17 Comprehensive Review Papers (In Chinese)