Biofertilizers and Organic Farming

Contents: Preface. 1. Integrated plant nutrition systems. 2. Organic manures: their nature and characteristics. 3. Livestock and human wastes: characteristics and value. 4. Potential of organic materials and plant nutrients. 5. Preparation, processing and preservation of organic manures. 6. Biogas potential from livestock wastes and human excreta. 7. Response of crops to organic manures. 8. Response of crops to organic materials in salt affected soils. 9. Nitrogen fixation. 10. Mycorrhizae in agriculture. 11. Fertilizers with organics and biofertilizers. 12. Bulky organic manures and crop residues. 13. Green Manuring: nutrient potentials. 14. Biological and industrial wastes: source of plant nutrients. 15. Role of biofertilizers in crop production. 16. Biofertilizers for flooded rice ecosystem. 17. Production, distribution and promotion of biofertilizers. 18. Effect of biofertilizers on growth. 19. Biofertilizers: a supplementary nutrient. 20. Bioinoculations and biofertilizers on growth. 21. Significance and Azospirillum brassilense and Pseudomonas on growth. 22. Application of Mycorrhizae and Rhizobium on biomass production. 23. Effect of VAM fungi on banana plants. 24. Mungbean with solubilizing bacteria. 25. Performance of Asymbiotic biofertilizers. 26. Effect of azospirillum on quality of sugarcane. 27. Bio-inoculants for recycling banana wastes. 28. Pressmud as plant growth promoter. 29. Biofertilizer for multipurpose. 30. Tree legumes seedlings. 31. Infectivity on growth of Cajanus Cajan. 32. Saline soil tolerance. 33. Importance of VAM Mycorrhizae. 34. Biochemical and genetic characterization of mineral phosphate. 35. Effect of phosphobacterium on growth. 36. Effect of  phosphomicrobes. 37. Recommendations. Bibliography. Index.

"Increasing population levels on a near stabilized agricultural land places a heavy burden on the soil source--particularly its nutrient supplying power. Chemical fertilizers have come to increase the output of agricultural product and to meet ever increasing demand of human population. The problem is further compounded in several areas due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers which resulted into considerable deterioration in the quality of indigenous soil.

Intensive agriculture with the use of chemical fertilizers in large amount has, no doubt, result, resulted in manifold increase in the productivity of farm commodities but the adverse effect of these chemicals are clearly visible on soil structure, microflora, quality of water, food and fodder. Organic farming has emerged as the only answer to bring sustainability to agriculture and environment.

Organic farming is a farming integration of biological, cultural and natural inputs including integrated diseases and pest management practices. Integrated plant nutrition can be best if it is practised on scientific facts, local conditions and microeconomics. We hope this publication will create a balanced, objective and science based appreciation for meeting the nutrient needs of agriculture. This book has been written for agricultural planners, soil scientists, biologists, microbiologists, students, teachers, fertilizer industry, personnel research and development units, organisation engaged in biofertilizer production, training centres, all those interested in the efficient use and recycling of wastes, resource management and sustainable farming." (jacket)