Background:
Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) constitute the primary macronutrients essential for promoting healthy and well-balanced growth in plants. In the context of organic crop cultivation, farmers commonly employ distinct microbial inoculants such as Nitrogen fixers, Phosphobacteria, and K solubilizers individually to fulfill these nutritional requirements. 3 However, this necessitates separate investments for each product. Often, microbial strains not native to the region may not exhibit optimal performance, especially in conditions resembling those of Sikkim, due to environmental variations. Consequently, there is a need to devise a straightforward solution, such as a "Native microbial strains-based Biofertilizers consortium," as a unified product capable of addressing the needs for N, P, K, and promoting plant growth, specifically in organic cultivation within Sikkim's unique conditions. Sikkim has been recognized as one of the initial organic states by the Government of India. However, the limited availability of microbial products based on native strains in the market underscores the need to develop sustainable microbial consortia derived from native strains. These consortia can play a crucial role as supplements, addressing nutrient requirements and contributing to the promotion of plant growth, as well as improving soil and plant health. Sikkim stands out globally as one of the states that has successfully implemented a 100% organic policy. The total cultivated area in Sikkim averages 138,000 hectares, necessitating approximately 6.9 lakh liters of bio-fertilizers (at a rate of 5 liters per hectare). Out of this total cultivated area, farmers are cultivating rice and vegetable crops in around 40,000 ha. By initially covering ten percent of the rice based vegetable crop growing area, an annual need of 0.20 lakh liters of bio-fertilizer consortium arises.:
Solution:
1. “Biofertilizers Consortium” is a liquid based formulation contains efficient Nitrogen fixer (Azotobacter chroococcum, Phosphate, and Potash solubilizers (Pseudomonas putida) in a single carrier. These strains were selected based on qualitative and quantitative potential of nitrogen fixation, phosphate & potash solubilization, phyto hormone production and adaptability under Sikkim condition. Application of bio-fertilizer consortium along with farmer practices could increase yield by 16.0-22.0 % in rice and different vegetable crops under Sikkim condition compared to only farmer practices.:
2. All the three microbial strains used in this formulation have good compatibilities. As per convenience, farmer can apply either through seed treatment or root dipping or soil drenching or enrichment with compost.:
3. Bacteria used in this consortium have an excellent local adaptability under Sikkim condition in different crops.:
4. Application of this consortium provided invisible beneficial effects like improvement of microbial properties of soil.:
5. This technology exploits the synergistic effects of the individual microbial strains and does away with the need for applying individual microbial inoculants: