Monday 13 May 2013

Eco-friendly Fertilizers for a Better Environment



The concept of chemical fertilizers initially gained much importance. These fertilizers increases the yield which was highly accepted by the farmers. The problems started when the products began to show negative side effects, which included pollution of the soil, leaching out and destruction of advantageous insects and microbes. This had a very bad impact on the total ecosystem, completely destroying the utility and fertility of the soil. 


Chemical-free Fertilizers must be used proficiently 

The solution to the problem was the concept of organic fertilizers. The scientists found out that organic way is the best way. The definition and types of biofertilizers are discussed below.

Definition:
The term biofertilizers refer to those waste products that are biological in nature and are used to make the soil more fertile without adding any chemicals that tend to damage the soil. These products are highly beneficial with the ability to make the soil rich in microbes that in turn, help the crops to gain immunity power and help in plant development.

Varieties of biofertilizers:

·         Biocompost: This type is produced from the waste products of the sugar industry. Various fungi and bacteria that are friendly to humans and plants are added to the decomposed waste. The product is made up of bacteria in which phosphate is soluble, nitrogen, Trichoderma Viride and decomposing fungi. It helps to fight the diseases and improve soil fertility.

·         Tricho-card: It is effective in destroying various flower and leaf eaters’ eggs. It can be used for both ornamental and horticultural plants.  

·         Phospho: It fixes phosphorus to the soil by releasing insoluble phosphorus. This is very important for soil fertility.

·         Azotobactor: Most of the nitrogen present in the soil helps in increasing soil fertility. Azotobactor conducts this process of fixing free atmosphere nitrogen to the soil and allowing the plants to take nutrition from the fixed nitrogen.          

·         Rhizo:  This bacterial performs the function of bringing up nodule in the roots of leguminous plants. These nodules help in nitrogen fixation.
 
·         Composter: This variety is of decomposing culture. They break down any organic waste like cattle waste and dead plants.

·         Trichoderma: Theses are eco-friendly and non-pathogenic by nature. They help to control pathogens and are very good agents of bio-control.

·         Vermicompost: In this process, worms are used to increase the fertility of the soil. This helps in providing potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, enzymes, vitamins and hormones which help in increasing the yield and fertility of the soil. 

Biofertilizers are necessary for proper growth and functioning of the plants. They condition and develop the plants in a healthier way. One must always recommend use of such organic fertilizers instead of chemical and toxic ones for protecting the environment and providing healthier food to humans.

Somnath Bose writes articles on Bio Fertilizers. In this article he has written about its varieties. For further queries and information visit the website Lilaagrotech.com