Background:
Rice requires 15-20 kg nitrogen for the production of each ton of rough rice including straw. The nitrogen requirement of the major cereals is met mostly from application of nitrogenous fertilizer (10 million tonnes per year). In order to further increase the productivity, increased doses of nitrogenous fertilizer application is essential. For example, to enhance rice productivity to > 10 tonnes per ha, we need to enhance application of nitrogenous fertilizers from the present level of 80 kg N/ha to 400 kgN/ha. However, nitrogenous fertilizers are becoming increasingly costlier due to the dependence on fossil fuels for their production and every year the fertilizer subsidy bills are increasing. This necessitates the development of rice-specific biofertilizers which have lower dependability on chemical fertilizers and are sustainable both ecologically and economically (without any reduction in yield levels). Anticipated market size The potential market of biofertilizer for entire rice growing reason of India (nearly 43 million hectare) is around 250 lakhs liters (at the rate of 700 mL per hectare).Of which if we target even one percent of total rice-cultivated area, it needs around 2.5 lakhs liters.:
Technology Details:
Among biofertilizers, nitrogen fixing bioinoculants are one of the possible alternatives of chemical N; but the potentiality of these microbes is really a question at field level mainly due to environmental constraints. A liquid formulation of NRRI-Endo N, having shelf life of more than twelve months was developed. NRRI-Endo N is used as rice root-dip technique (recommended dose @ 250/acre) before transplantation in the field. The formulation was verified as per Fertilizer Control Guidelines (FCO) guideline by third party (Sate Biofertilizer Testing Laboratory, Bhubaneswar, Odisha). NRRI-Endo N was evaluated in NRRI field and 30 different locations of farmer’s field in Odisha and impact analysis has been made by taking feedback from 25 beneficiary and 13 non-beneficiary farmers in the sample size of 500 across targeted sited of Odisha. Based on validation data, NRRI-Endo N could enhance yield by 10.31% besides saving about 25% chemical N. The mean yield advantage of 0.53 t/ha could be achieved over farmer practice irrespective of rice cultivars which can lead to a monetary benefit of about Rs. 9500/- hectare over farmer’s practice. Unique features of NRRI-EndoN:
1. For the first time liquid formulation of Azotobacter chroococcum as ENDOPHYTE has been developed and used in the field:
2. NRRI-EndoN could increase rice yield by ~10.31% besides saving approximately ~25% of N:
3. NRRI-EndoN is a bacterial formulation and hence, could sustain soil health.: