Background
The microbial strain available as bio-fertilizers does not perform effectively and their activity decreases in salt affected soils due to osmolysis. The physical and chemical methods for reclamation of salt affected soils of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar and other states are not cost-effective and also not easily available. The salt affected soils suffer from multi nutrient deficiency impairing crop growth. This microbial technology using halophilic microbes in liquid formulations enhances growth and yield of crops and helps in maintaining health of these problematic soils. Technology Details:
Salt tolerant (halophilic) bacterial strains of N-fixers, P solubilizes and Zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) were isolated from native salt affected soils, tested at multi locations in salt affected as well as normal soils. The consortia of halophilic N-fixers, P solubilizers and Zinc solubilizing bacteria were prepared in suitable standardized media as liquid bioformulations viz. Halo-Mix. These can be used either for seed treatment or soil application. In saline and sodic soils, where other methods of reclamations are becoming difficult, costly and availability of amendments is not easy, application of these liquid bioformulations helps to remediate salt stress and enhances plant growth and yield. These microbes remediate the rhizospheric environments and allow movement of water and nutrients alleviating salt stress. Plant available macro and micro-nutrients like N, P and Zn are deficient in most of the problem as well as normal soils. These nutrients can be mobilized through their activities in the soil or rhizosphere and make available to plants in a gradual manner under salt stress. These also help in maintenance of soil health, minimize environmental pollution and cut down on the use of chemicals in agriculture. They are affordable for most of the farmers who are small and marginal. Bioformulations are also ideal input for reducing the cost of cultivation and for promoting organic farming on salt affected soils.