Biofertilizers have been assessed as a powerful way of producing sustainable and enhanced crop yield. The positive effects of Azotobacter biofertilizer on growth parameters, production of plants, and improvement in soil microbial ecology have also added to its usage in the agriculture sector.
Still, what is an Azotobacter?
Azotobacter is a free-living, Gram-negative, aerobic soil dwelling, spherical shaped bacteria that help in the nitrogen-fixing of soil. These bacteria take the atmospheric nitrogen for cell protein synthesis, which is then mineralized in the soil after the cells are dead, contributing to the availability of nitrogen to the plants. Azotobacter has positive effects on nutrient uptake of plants boosting nitrogen fixation in soil.
But why should we consider it as the next ray of hope as a biofertilizer in the agricultural sector?
Nitrogen fixation is considered an important biological activity as it recycles the nitrogen in the soil and also maintains nitrogen homeostasis in the biosphere. Nitrogen fixation is also responsible for a healthy crop yield. In such cases, diazotrophs like Azotobacter plays an important role as they enrich nitrogen in N-deficient soils. Therefore, Azotobacter biofertilizers are introduced for fixing nitrogen in agriculture by practicing nitrogen management.
Azotobacter can be used as bioinoculants for studying nitrogen fixation and recycling nitrogen quickly in soil. It can also transform atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which can be used by plants. A mixed culture of Azotobacter strain can also reduce the use of N-fertilizers up to 50% and therefore could be applied in crops production as a replacement of mineral nitrogen fertilizers.
Plant growth hormones include substances produced by both plants and microorganisms. These growth hormones have some stimulatory impacts on the biochemical processes in plants or microorganisms. Azotobacter is known to synthesize cytokinins, auxins, and GA-like matters which are known to be directly responsible for improving plant growth. These hormones stem from the root surface of plants and have a direct impact on the growth of plants.
The microbial effects of an Azotobacter biofertilizer are generally considered safer and have target-specific effects, which is regarded crucial in cases of integrated management of nutrients in the soil from a sustainability perspective.
Chemical fertilizers are an expensive option for fertilizers. Chemical fertilizer may also sometimes lead to adverse effects on soil health. In such cases, an Azotobacter biofertilizer can play a crucial role in enhancing the fertility of the soil. It is also one of the best budget options for a better crop yield, being economical and environment-friendly at the same time.
The Azotobacter stimulates the development of branching, foliage, flowering, roots, and fruiting in plants. It also extends plants tolerance levels to dryness or lack of water in adverse conditions. The plants which are inoculated with Azotobacter have comparatively shown better response than the non-inoculated plants.
Azotobacter creates a balanced nutrient condition in plants, resulting in a better leaf area index (LAI) of the plants. The LAI is also responsible for determining the photosynthetic capabilities of plants, leading to their better production and development. Usage of an Azotobacter biofertilizer may help in increasing the yield of plants and also helps them gain weight physically in terms of the number of branches.
So, these are the top six benefits of using Azotobacter.