Semester-II
Title of the Course: Biofertilizers
Nature of course : SEC-II
Course code :
Total Credits : 03
Distribution of Marks: 45+30=75
Total Lectures: 45
Unit 1: (7 lectures)
Factors affecting plant growth; essential nutrients; microbes used as biofertilizer (nitrogen fixers, phosphate solubilizers, PGPR) biocontrol agents.
Unit 2: (7 lectures)
Cyanobacteria (blue green algae), Azolla and Anabaena azollae association, process of nitrogen fixation, blue green algae and Azollain rice cultivation.
Unit 3: (8 lectures)
Mycorrhizal association, types of mycorrhizal association; colonization of AM – isolation and inoculum production of AM, and its influence on growth and yield of crop plants.
Unit 4: (8 lectures)
Organic farming – Green manuring and organic fertilizers, Recycling of bio-degradable municipal, agricultural and Industrial wastes – biocompost making methods, types and method of vermicomposting – field Application.
Practical
Demonstration/field visit to biofertilizer producing units, identification of some common biofertilizers.
Suggested Readings
1. Dubey, R.C., 2005 A Text book of Biotechnology S.Chand& Co, New Delhi.
2. Kumaresan, V. 2005, Biotechnology, Saras Publications, New Delhi.
3. John Jothi Prakash, E. 2004. Outlines of Plant Biotechnology. Emkay Publication, New Delhi.
4. Sathe, T.V. 2004 Vermiculture and Organic Farming. Daya publishers.
5. Subha Rao, N.S. 2000, Soil Microbiology, Oxford & IBH Publishers, New Delhi.
6. Vayas,S.C, Vayas, S. and Modi, H.A. 1998 Bio-fertilizers and organic Farming AktaPrakashan, Nadiad