Journal of Agriculture & Education Research
- ISSN: 3065-8764
Rutuja Sawane, Suryakant Shinde and Manisha Shinde
Today’s agriculture sector requires reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and increasing the use of bio-based formulations for implementing organic farming practices. In organic farming, the role of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and growth stimulants is crucial, but the availability of bio-based products in larger quantities always remains a constraint. Hence the purpose of this study is to formulate a microbial-based bio-fertilizer formulation ‘BAIF ELIXER’ and evaluate its bio-efficacy in field trials. Six types of microbial cultures, potential as N2 fixers, phosphate solubilizers, and bio-stimulants from BAIF Development Research Foundation were cultivated in a 200 L fermenter and used to develop a BAIF ELIXER bio-fertilizer formulation. The final count of 1X109 CFU/ml was used to develop an on-farm liquid bio-fertilizer BAIF ELIXER formulation. To study its bio-efficacy, seed, and on-farm treatment were conducted on Momordica charantia on 900 plants planted in a 0.13 hector area for each treatment in Research Farm, Pune. During the field experiment, plant growth and yield were recorded for 7 consecutive harvests at four days intervals. BAIF ELIXER on-farm treatment produces the highest yield of 997 kg at the 7th harvest. Both seed and on-farm treatment give higher yields as compared to control plots. As a result, the crops can be produced organically with the combined application of biofertilizers for sustainable crop development. The study will help to understand the role of beneficial microbes in agriculture in improving organic farming practices