Effective Role of Micro Organisms and Sea Effective Role of Micro Organisms and Sea Weeds as BioWeeds as Bio--Fertilizers in Organic Fertilizers in Organic

Farming for a Farming for a Sustainable EnvironmentSustainable Environment

Prof. S.B. Padhi, D.Sc.Algal Research Laboratory

Department of BotanyBerhampur University, Bhanjabihar

Berhampur-760 007 (ORISSA)

OBJECTIVES OF ORGANIC FARMINGOBJECTIVES OF ORGANIC FARMING

Prevention of Environmental Pollution Protection of health and life of Human being Microbial inoculantsEco-friendly management of diseasesBiotechnological applications

IMPACT OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND IMPACT OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDESPESTICIDES

Low organic matter in the soilProblem associated with residual toxicityIncreased hazards and outbreak of pest, diseases and weedsDeterioration in quality of produceAdverse effect on flora and faunaPoor water holding capacity of the soilCompaction of soil structureSoil becomes infertile for cultivations and causes serious state of degradationSoil minerals are depletedSoil remains in dying stateAgriculture becomes increasingly destabilizedFarmer suicides are mounting.Loss of adequate food, nutritional, livelihood and ecological security and at times life itself

PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC FARMINGPRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC FARMING

To establish, maintain and increase soil living systemTo restore to the soil the organic matter to hold its fertilityTo restore to the soil a balanced system of functionRestoration of soils through mineralizationBuilding of soil structureCultivating the soil-ecosystemThere three components of soil restoration are interlinked and have a highly beneficial on each other

ORGANIC FARMING ORGANIC FARMING –– SOIL RESTORATIONSOIL RESTORATIONSOIL MINERALS

CalciumMagnesiumPhosphatePotassiumSulphurSodiumBismuthZincManganeseIronCopper

SOIL STRUCTURE AirWaterSoil aggregatesTilage

SOIL BIOLOGY

•Crop rotation•Green Manure•Compost

ORGANIC FARMING ORGANIC FARMING -- ChallengesChallenges

Organic Farming Prevents:

The use of synthetically compounded fertilizersPesticidesGrowth regulators

Organic Farming Depends:

Crop rotationCrop residuesAnimal manuresFarm organic wastesMechanical cultivationMineral beating rocks Biological pest control

ORGANIC FARMING ORGANIC FARMING -- Strategies & IssuesStrategies & Issues

Blending of traditional eco-friendly technologies with frontier-technologies to meet requirement of nutrition and health security of increasing populationOrganic farming products need to be encouraged for health securityAgronomical practices need to be preferredCan regulate round the year availability of crop products to meet the requirement of domestic and overseas marketBiotechnological approaches such as vermiculture, bio-pesticides, bio-fertilizers and micro-propagations have to be blended judiciously with traditional practices for sustaining production of organic crops

ORGANIC FARMING ORGANIC FARMING -- AdvantagesAdvantages

A better and balanced environmentResults in healthy and productive soilsReduce dependence on costly chemicalsBetter food and higher living standard to the human populationBetter long term future of agricultureLow cost agricultural developmentYields showing significant improvementLess energy requirementOffer excellent opportunities for the employment of skilled labourPut the natural resources available in India to efficient useLess occurrence of pest incidenceGoverned by the principle of EcologyBiologically active soil is the foundation of organic farmingMore resistant to pest and diseasesAn urgent remedial measure to prevent cultivable lands from turning into deserts

Benefits from BIOBenefits from BIO--FERTILIZERSFERTILIZERSIt is a low cost and easy technique It is a renewable bio-fertilizerCan be used by small and marginal farmersIt is free from pollution hazards and increase soil fertilityApplication of algal bio-fertilizers increase in rice yields ranges between 10-45 per centAfter 3-4 consequent years, the algal effects become consistent and therefore no need of using this practicesAlgalization causes 40-50 kg N left over the soil and can be used for subsequent cropsCyanobacteria secrete growth promoting substances, like IAA, IBA, NAA, Aminoacids, proteins, vitamins etc. They add sufficient amount of organic matter in soilCyanobacteria can grow and multiply under wide pH range of 6.5-8.5. They can be used on the possible tool to reclaim saline or alkaline soilRhizobial bio-fertilizer can fit 50-100 kg N/ ha/ AnnumAzotobacter and Azospiriullum besides supplying N to soil, secrete antibiotics which act as pesticidesAzolla supplies N, increases organic matter and fertility in soil and shows tolerance against heavy metalsThe bio-fertilizers increase physico-chemical properties of soils like soil texture, structure, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity and pH by providing several nutrients and sufficient organic matterThe mycorrhizal biofertilizers make the host plants available with certain elements, increase longevity and surface area of roots, reduce plant response of soil, stresses and increase resistances to plants

BLUEBLUE--GREEN ALGAE (GREEN ALGAE (CynobacteriaCynobacteria))Characteristics:

Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae (BGA) the only source of nitrogenous biofertilizers produced at practically no energy cost of makingPhotoautotrophic microbes, utilize solar energy to reduce atmosphere dinitrogen to ammoniaHave very simple inorganic requirements for growthMass production is cheaper and easier than conventional chemical fertilizers

Nitrogen Fixing BLUE-GREEN ALGAE:

BGA form the most promising biological system in the rice fields soils of IndiaIn addition to contributing nitrogen, benefit the crop in many other ways

BlueBlue--Green ALGAE (Green ALGAE (CynobacteriaCynobacteria))

ALGALIZATIONALGALIZATION

Characteristics:A process of application of algal culture in field as bio-fertilizerLate Prof. Venkatraman (1961) initiated algalization technology in India

Objectives of Technology Development & Demonstration Projects on CynobacterialBio-Fertilizers:

To develop low cost indigenous technology for mass production of cyanobacteriaTo isolate regional specific fast growing and better N2-fixing strainTo develop low cost indigenous technology for mass production of cyanobacteriaTo isolate regional specific fast growing and better N2-fixing strainTo develop starter inoculumTo demonstrate the farmers in fieldTo study the benefits on both economy and ecologyBlue-green algae represent a self-supporting biological agentThey can photosynthetically provide energy for nitrogen fixationCyanobacteria could excrete ammonia under flooded rice soil conditionsThus this potential group of nitrogen fixation algae may be better exploited for harnessing atmospheric nitrogen.

ALGAL BIOALGAL BIO--FERTILIZER: Mass CultivationFERTILIZER: Mass Cultivation

Techniques:

Germ plasm collection laboratories maintain development of starter inoculumSpecies of Anabaena, Cylindrospermum, Gloeotrichia, Nostoc, Plectonema, Tolypothrix are starter inoculumLaboratory culture are maintained in test tubes and conical flasks

Methods of Mass Cultivation:

Cemented tank method Shallow metals troughs methodPolythene lined pit methodField method

ALGAL Culture Laboratory at ALGAL Culture Laboratory at Berhampur UniversityBerhampur University

ALGAL Laboratory CulturesALGAL Laboratory Cultures

ALGAL ALGAL –– Tank CulturesTank Cultures

ALGAL ALGAL –– Mass CultivationMass Cultivation

AZOLLAAZOLLA

Characteristics:Azolla is an aquatic heterosporous fern which contains an endophyticcyanobacterium, Anabaena Azolla in its leaf cavityAzolla bio-fertilizer technology has become very popular in China, Indonesia, Philippines, India and BangladeshAzolla Species are of following seven categories as known so far:

a) A. carolinianab) A. filiculoidesc) A. mexicanad) A. microphyllae) A. niloticaf) A. pinnatag) A. rubra

A. pinnata is commonly found in India.Azolla mat is harvested and dried to use as green manure.Two methods for its application in field:

1) Incorporation of Azolla in soil prior to rice plantation. 2) Transplantation of rice followed by water draining and incorporation of

Azolla

AZOLLA AZOLLA –– as Organic Fertilizersas Organic Fertilizers

MYCORRHIZA AS BIOMYCORRHIZA AS BIO--FERTILIZERFERTILIZER

Characteristics:Its multifarious role in plant growth and yield.Resistance against climatic and edaphic stresses, pathogens and pests.

Types of MYCORRHIZAS:

EctomycorrhizaEndomycorrhizaEctendomycorrhiza

Benefits from MYCORRHIZA to PLANTSBenefits from MYCORRHIZA to PLANTSThey increase the longevity of feeder roots, surface area of rots by forming mantle and spreading mycelia into soilRate of absorption of major and minor nutrients from soil increasesEnhanced growth is the consequencePlay a key role for selective absorption of immobile and mobile elements to plantsVA mycorrhizal fungi enhance water uptake in plantsVA mycorrhizal fungi reduce plant responses to soil stressVA mycorrhizal fungi decrease transplant socks to seedlingsThey produce organic glue which bind soil particles into aggregatesPlay a significant role augmenting soil fertility and plant nutritionThey increase resistance in plant and reduce the effects of pathogens and pests on plant health

SEA WEEDSSEA WEEDS

Characteristics:Seaweeds are macroscopic marine algae and belongs mainly to:

RhodophytaPhaeophytaChlorophyta

Indian coastal areas is rich in algal diversityThe coastal states like Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Andaman and Nicobar islands have luxuriant growth of seaweedsGracilaria, Gelidium, Sargassum, Hypnea, Ulva, Turbinaria are economically important seaweeds

SEA WEEDS SEA WEEDS –– as Organic Fertilizersas Organic Fertilizers

Grateloupia lithophila

In agriculture seaweeds acts as useful soil conditioners, fertilizers and green manureThey are rich in having a variety of elementsThey are easily available, easily decomposed and possess trace elements.They are good soil conditioners Seaweed is a complex manure containing all the major and minor plant nutrients, several auxins and gibberllins, a wide range of vitamins and amino acids and carbohydrates

Euchuma

SEA WEEDSSEA WEEDS

Halymenia sp. Halymenia sp.

Halymenia sp.

SEA WEEDS SEA WEEDS –– Marketing ProductsMarketing Products

SEA WEEDS SEA WEEDS –– Processing & PackagingProcessing & Packaging

SolaeriaHalymenia sp.

SEASEA--WEEDS of Chilka Lake, OrissaWEEDS of Chilka Lake, Orissa

SEASEA--WEEDS of Chilka Lake, OrissaWEEDS of Chilka Lake, Orissa

SEASEA--WEED USAGEWEED USAGE

Liquid Sea-Weed Extracts:Maxicrop – the first commercial production of LSF in U.K.The other commercially labeled seaweed extracts are Algifert, Goemar, GA 14, Seaspray, Seasol, S.M. 3, Cytex and Seacrop 16

Benefits of Liquid Sea-Weed Extracts:Increased crop yieldResistance of plants to frostIncreased uptake of inorganic constituents from the soilReduction in storage and losses of fruitIncreased growth and vigorSeaweed compost added to soil increased the uptake of major nutrientsLiquid seaweed fertilizer is a unique combination of N.P.K. trace elements, alginates and simple sugars in dissolved formCommercial use of concentrated seaweed extracts as foliar spray, in seed treatments and rot dips have been increased for more rapidly

ORGANIC FARMING ORGANIC FARMING -- CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Organic farming can emerge as a market oriented commercially viable and ecologically sustainable means of producing food and raw materials to benefit to small farmersA suitable technology that enhance the livelihood opportunities in rural areas – employment, income and food securityExtensive regional trials would need to be conducted with the product to determine the environmental limits on biological activity and monitor the survival and dispersal of the inocula. Hence use of modern agriculture in conjunction with traditional farming practices is the suitable solution for the futureFood security and nutrition safety could reduce the burden of hunger, malnutrition if implemented effectivelyWith all these positive examples of organic farming it should be translated into an enabling policy for small farmers