HAND BOOK OF

BIOFERTILIZERS
& VERMICULTURES
Written By :

EIRI Consultants and Engineers

Copy Reserved by Sudhir Gupta, Delhi

ISBN : 978-81-86765-01-9

4449, Nai Sarak, Main Road, Delhi-110 006 (India)

E-Mail : eiritechnology@gmail.com
Website: www.eiriindia.org

Preface
The book Hand Book of Biofertilizers & Vermiculture
covers various methods including The Living Soil, Organic
Sources and Dynamics, Vermiculture, Application of
vermiculture Biotechnology, Composting of Agricultural and
Industrial Wastes, Biological Fertilizers, Microbal Inoculants
for Nitrogen Fixation, Mechanism and Estimation of Nitrogen
Fixation, Biological Mobilization of Phosphorus , The Cyclic
System of Nutrient Management, Perspectives, List of
Bio-fertilizers Units in India and Abroad, Plant Economics of
Agrofertilizer from Leaves, Plant Economics of Biofertilizers from
Chicken Refuges, Oil Cakes, Bone Mills, Plant Economics of
Biofertilizers from Cowdung & other Wastage, Plant Economics
of Biofertilizers (Organic Fertilizers) from Garbage (MSW), Plant
Economics of Organic Manure, Plant Economics of Sea Weed
Liquid Fertilizer, Plant Economics of Vermi-Composting
The book has been written for the benefit and to prove
an asset and a handy reference guide in the hands of new
entrepreneurs and well established industrialists.

Director
4449, Nai Sarak, Main Road, Delhi-110 006 (INDIA)
E-mail : eiribooks@yahoo.com

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Chapter

CONTENT AND SUBJECT INDEX

Page No. Chapter

3.

Chapter

Page No. Chapter

1.

THE LIVING SOIL . .......................... 1 - 14

Biological Management of Soil Fertility . 1

Sustainable agriculture: Needs of
the Hour . ............................................... 1
Evolution of Sustainable Agriculture . ... 2
Sustainable Livelihood . ........................ 4
Making of Sustainable Farming
Systems . .............................................. 5
Management of Organic Inputs . .......... 6
Regulation of Nutrient Dynamics by
resource Quality Control . .................... 6
Environmental Regulation of Organic ... 9
Matter Management . ............................ 9
Organic-inorganic Interactions . ......... 10
Nitrogen . ............................................. 10
Phosphorus . ....................................... 10
Nutrient Mixture . ................................. 10
Need For Organic Inputs . .................. 11
Long-Term Effects . ............................ 11
The Farming Systems Context . ........ 12
2.

ORGANIC SOURCES AND

DYNAMICS . .................................... 15 - 33

Organic Material Use . ........................ 16

Composting to Enhance the
Usefulness and . ................................. 16
Acceptability of Organic Materials . .... 16
Special Management Practices for
Utilization of Organic Materials on
Land . ................................................... 17
Bulky Organic Manures/Animal
Manures/ Crop Residues/Composts .
17
Type of Bulky Organic Manures . ...... 17
Farmyard Manure . ............................. 18
Composted Manure . .......................... 20
Urban Compost . ................................. 20
Bulky Organic Manures . .................... 20
Farm Yard Manure (FYM) . ................ 20
Compost . ............................................ 21
Aerobic method . ................................. 21
Anaerobic method . ............................. 22
Enrichment of Manure and Compost . 22
Enriched farmyard manure . ............... 22

Page No.

Enrichment of compost with microbial

inoculants . ........................................... 22
Super digested compost . .................... 23
Sheep and goat manure . .................... 23
Poultry manure . ................................... 23
Sewage and Sludge . ........................... 23
Night Soil Poudrettes . .......................... 24
Concentrated Organic Manure . ......... 24
Oil cakes . ............................................ 24
Meal group of manures . ...................... 24
Crop residues . .................................... 25
Agro-industrial wastes . ....................... 25
Rice husk . ........................................... 25
Bagasse . ............................................. 25
Pressmud . ........................................... 25
Tea wastes . ......................................... 26
Coir waste . .......................................... 26
Green Manuring . ................................. 26
Green Manuring in Situ . ...................... 26
Green Leaf Manuring . ......................... 27
Poultry Manure : An Efficient
Organic Manure for Rice . ................... 27
Formation Mechanisms of Complex
Organic . ............................................... 28
Structures in Soil Habitats . ................. 28
Organisms Involved in
Organic Matter Formation . ................. 28
Chemohetertrophic amimals . .............. 29
Saprophytic Bacteria, fungi and
protozoa . ............................................. 29
Oxidoreductive enzymes . .................. 29
Classes of Mono-phenol
monooxygenases . .............................. 30
Synthetic Reactions in Soil . ................ 30
Degradative Processes . ..................... 30
Types of Plant Material for
Decomposition . ................................... 31
The pathway of lignin decomposition .. 31
Microorganisms for Lignin biodegradation
.............................................................. 31
Acquired stability . ................................ 32
Synthetic Processes for Humus
Formation . ........................................... 32
The Role of Oxidative Coupling in
Humus Formation . .............................. 32
Theories of Humus Formation .
........ 32 Modern theories of humification .
.............................................................. 33

VERMICULTURE . ......................... 34 - 57

Earthworms as Indicators of
Soil Fertility . ......................................... 35
Soil enrichment . ................................... 35
Earthworm : The Natural Biosector . ....36
Interaction of Vermicompost- ..............37
Earthworm-Mulch - Plantroot (Vemp) .

37

Recycling of Wastes Through Vermitech

.............................................................. 38
Earthworms and Plant Growth . .......... 38
Advantages of Organic Manure
and the Role of Earthworms . .............. 38
What is Vermicompost . ....................... 39
Vermiculture and Pollution Hazard . .... 39
Advantages of Vermicompost . ........... 40
Adverse Effects on Crops . ................. 40
Economic Viability ................................41
Vermiculture Process ..........................41
Selection of Suitable Species . ............. 41
Epiges . ................................................. 43
Endoges . .............................................43
Aneciques . ........................................... 43
Basic Characteristics of Suitable
Species . ............................................... 43
Fixing Earthworms for Identification .... 44
Trasport of Fixed Worms to
Laboratory . ..........................................44
Description of Suitable Species . ..........44
Family: Lumbricidae .............................45
Bimastos parvus [= Allolobophora
(Bimastos) parvus Eisen] ....................45
Eisenia foetida (Sav.) . ......................... 45
Family: Eudrilidae . ............................... 46
Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinb.) . ................... 46
Family: Megascolecidae . .................... 47
Lampito mauritii (Kinb.) . ...................... 47
Metaphire anomala Mich.
(= Pheretima anomala) . ...................... 47
Metaphire posthuma
(= Pheretima posthuma) . .................... 48
Perionyx excavatus E. Perr. . ............. 48
Perionyx sansbaricus Michaelson . .... 48
Maintenance of Base Culture ..............49
Vermicastings as Inoculant .................49
Vermicomposting Materials .................49
Animal dung . ........................................ 49
Agricultural waste . ............................... 49
Forestry wastes ...................................49

Page No.

City leaf litter . ..................................... 50

Waste paper and cotton cloth etc. .... 50
City refuge . ........................................ 50
Biogas slurry ......................................50
Industrial wastes ................................50
Preliminary Treatment of
Composting Material ..........................50
Pre-treatment of leaf litter and
agricultural waste . ............................. 50
Small Scale or Indoor
Vermicomposting . ............................. 51
Large Scale or Outdoor
Vermicomposting . ............................. 52
Requirments for Vermicomposting .... 53
Container . ..........................................53
Bedding material . ............................... 53
Moisture content ................................53
Temperature ......................................53
Successful Adoption of Vermiculture 53
Initiation of Vermiculture in India . .......56
Successful Applications in India . .......57
Composting of waste . ....................... 57
Use in agriculture . ............................. 57
4.

APPLICATION OF VERMICULTURE BIOTECHNOLOGY .... 58 - 73

Vermiculture Biotechnology . ............. 58

Earthworm for Nutrient Management 60
Effect on soil fertility . ......................... 60
Nitrogen . ............................................ 60
Phosphorus . ...................................... 61
Potassium . ......................................... 62
Earthworms for Water Management . 63
Earthworm castings . ......................... 63
Earthworms Act as Biopump . ........... 64
Earthworms for Effective Waste
Management ......................................64
Composting of Municipal and
Industrial Wastes . ............................. 65
Earthworms for Disease and
Pest Management . ............................ 65
Earthworms for Nutritional Crops ...... 66
Earthworms for Sustainable Agriculture
and Waste Land Development ..........67
Earthworms As vectors of Beneficial
Microorganisms . ............................... 67
Successful Applications . ................... 68
Harnessing Vermiculture BioTechnology ........................................ 69

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Chapter

Page No. Chapter

Selection of proper species . .............. 69

Use of vermicastings for inoculation ..
69
Earthworms and land use practices .. 69
Effect of organic manure and NPK
fertilizers on earthworm activity . ....... 69
Cultivation . .......................................... 70
Mulching . ............................................ 70
Irrigation . ............................................. 70
Biocides . ............................................. 70
Procedure to Prepare
Vermicompost . ................................... 71
Culturing technique . ........................... 71
Culture bed . ........................................ 71
Feed composition . .............................. 71
Feed application . ................................ 71
Wormcast production and collection .. 71
Application of Vermicomost . .............. 72
Conclusion . ......................................... 72
Future Research Needs . ................... 73

5.
COMPOSTING OF AGRICULTURAL
AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES .............. 74 - 90

Definition . ............................................ 75
Principles of Composting . .................. 75
Agricultural Wastes . ........................... 76
Methods for composting of
Agricultural wastes . ............................ 77
Indore Method . ................................... 77
Activated compost . ............................ 78
Banglore method . ............................... 78
Nadep Compost . ................................ 79
Coimbatore method . ........................... 79
Synthetic Compost . ............................ 79
Windrow composting (leaf compost) .. 80
Accelerated composting and enrichment
............................................................. 80
Vermi-composting . ............................. 80
Animal waste composting . ................. 81
Oil palm waste composting . ............... 81
Phospho-compost . ............................. 82
Re-inforced compost from
sugarcane trash and pressmud . ....... 82
Enriched FYM (EFYM) . ..................... 82
Weed composting . ............................. 83
Composting of parthenium . ................ 83
Hints for composting
agricultural wastes . ............................ 84
Industrial Wastes . .............................. 84
Composting of coir pith . ..................... 87

Page No.

Composting of Pressmud . ................. 88

Using distillery effluent . ...................... 88
Using microbial inoculum ....................89
Using pressmud and Distillery
effluent . ............................................... 89
Conclusion . ......................................... 89
Future Needs . ....................................90

Chapter

6.

BIOLOGICAL FERTILIZERS . .... 91 - 107

Soil Biota in Ssustainable Agriculture . 91

Bio-Diversity of Soil Biota ....................92
Possible Management Strategies . ..... 92
Importance of Biological
Sources of Nutrients . ......................... 93
Overcoming Soil Deficiencies
Natures Way ......................................94
Bio-Fertilizers for Sustainable
Agriculture . ......................................... 96
History of Bio-Fertilizer Research . .... 99
Economicla and Environmental
Benefits . ........................................... 103
Development of Bio-Fertilizer
Industry . .......................................... 105
Groups of Bio-Fertilizers . ............... 105
Conclusion . ...................................... 106

7.

MICROBAL INOCULANTS
FOR NITROGEN FIXATION . ... 108 - 177

Nitrogen Fixing Organisms and

Plant Associations . ..........................
Azotobacter . ....................................
Beijerinckia . .....................................
Azospirillum . ....................................
Other Bacteria . ................................
Asymbiotic Blue Green Algae . ........
Frankia . ...........................................
Rhizobium . .......................................
General Taxonomic
Characteristics of Legumes . ..........
Characteristics of the family
Plants, shrubs, woody vines,
and annual and perennial herbs . ....
Characteristics of the sub-families
Mimosoideae: Plants, shrubs,
woody vines, a few perennial herbs
Caesalpinloideae: Plants, shrubs,
rarely . ..............................................

108
110
110
110
111
112
112
113

117

118

118
118

Page No. Chapter

Scandent, rarely herbs . .................... 118

Papilionoideae: Plants, shrubs,
annual or perennial herbs ..................119
Techniques to Enumerate Rhizobia .. 119
Plate Count Technique . .................... 119
Flourescent Antibody
Technique (FAT) ................................120
Enzyme linked Immunosorbant
Assay (ELISA) ...................................120
Plant Infection Technique ..................121
Growth system for MPN methods .... 122
Suitable test host for MPN technique 122
Distribution of Rhizobial Population ... 123
Rhizobium culture ..............................125
Genetic modifications in
Rhizobium strains ..............................127
Rhizobium in Root Nodule .................127
Agrobacterium (A. radiobacter,
A. tumefacions) . ................................ 128
Structure and Function of Nodule . ....128
Formation of Nodule in
Leguminous Plants .............................128
Leghaemoglobin .................................131
Site of Nitrogen Fixation in Nodules .. 131
Leguminous Plants/Rhizobiaceae
Symbiosis . ......................................... 131
Isolation and Identification ..................132
Mass Production ................................134
Carriers for Rhizobiuminoculants . .....134
Method of Inoculation . ....................... 135
Crop Response . ................................ 135
Factor Affecting Crop Response . .....136
Confirming Nodulation ........................136
Field Methods for Identification
of Plant Actually Fixing Nitrogen . .......137
The Need to Inoculate .......................138
Selecting and Handling Inoculoants .. 140
Inoculation ..........................................141
Methods of application .......................141
Bio-Fertilizers and Their Usage in
Field Crops .........................................143
Seed treatment ...................................143
Seedling root dip .................................143
Soil Application ...................................143
Optimizing Nitrogen Fixation in NFS . 144
Effective and Ineffecive Strains . ........144
Establishment of Inoculated
Rhizobium . ......................................... 145
Production of Rhizobium Biofertilizer .. 145

Page No.

Selection of strains . .........................

Carrier materials and their
sterilization . ......................................
Suitable nutrient broth . ....................
Suitable packing material . ...............
Suitable adhesive material . .............
Fermentation . ..................................
Rotary shaker method . ...................
Bioreactor . .......................................
Frankiacease Symbiosis . ...............
Azospirillum Biofertilizer . .................
Major Species . ................................
Isolation . ..........................................
Mass Multiplication . .........................
Method of Inoculation . .....................
Conditions Needed for Successful
Inoculation . ......................................
Crop Response . ..............................
Azotobacter Biofertiuzer . ................
Isolation . ..........................................
Mass Production . ............................
Method of Application . .....................
Crop Response . ..............................
Methods of Application of
Azospirillum and Azotobacter . ........
Blue-Green Algae Inoculant . ...........
Distribution . ......................................
Isolation . ..........................................
Mass Production . ............................
Methods of Field Application . ..........
Crop Response . ..............................
Blue Green Algae (BGA) and Azolla
Mass Production and Applications ..
Crop Response . ..............................
Factors Affecting Response . ..........
BGA Production Technology . .........
Trough method . ...............................
Pit method . .......................................
Mass Multiplication of BGA
in the Field . ......................................
Dual Cropping of Azolla with Rice ...
Azolla-Anabaena Symbiosis . ..........
Multiplication of Azolla . ....................
Propagation . ....................................
Cement Cisterns . ............................
Mass multiplication in nursery plots
Enhanced Crop Production . ...........

147
149
151
151
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156
156
156
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157
157
157
158
158
159
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160
162
163
163
163
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164
165
166
167
167
167
168
168
168
169
170
170
170
170
171
171

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Chapter

Page No. Chapter

8.

MECHANISM AND ESTIMATION

OF NITROGEN FIXATION ............. 178 - 212

Diazotrophic Microorganisms . ......... 181

Biological Nitrogen Fixation . ............. 181
Asymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation . .......... 182
Microorganisms . .............................. 182
Mechanism of Asymbiotic
Nitrogen Fixation . ............................. 184
Requirments of Nitrogen Fixation . ... 185
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation . ............ 185
Mechanism of Nitrogen
Fixation in Legumes . ........................ 186
Theory of Virtanen . .......................... 186
Theory of Burns and Wilson . .......... 187
Nitrogen Converters in the Soil . ...... 188
Cyanobacteria and Nitrogen
Fixation . ............................................ 188
Nitrogen Fixing Fungi . ...................... 188
Bio-chemical Aspects of
Diazotrophy . ..................................... 188
Nitrogenase Producing E. Colicells .. 189
Genetics of Free-living and
Symbiotic Diazotrophs . .................... 191
Organization of Nitrogen-fixation
Genes . .............................................. 191
Nod-Genes for Nodulation . .............. 192
Regulation of Nitrogen-fixation
Genes . .............................................. 192
Genetics of Symbiotic
Diazotrophs . ..................................... 194
Transfer of NIF-Genes to
Microorganisms . .............................. 195
Transfer of NIF-Genes and
Development of new Nitrogen-Fixing ....
Plants . ............................................... 195
Estimates of Nitrogen Fixation . ........ 196
N Based Methods . ........................... 196
Nitrogen Balance Studies . ............... 197
Acetylene Reduction Assay . ........... 197
Quantifying Nitrogen Fixation in
NFSS . ............................................... 197
Quantities of Nitrogen Fixed . ........... 201
Factors Influencing Biological
Nitrogen Fixation . ............................. 201
Biological Factors . ............................ 202
Oxygen . ............................................ 204
Water stress . ................................... 204
Temperature . ................................... 205
Age . .................................................. 206

Page No.

pH and soil nutrients . ......................

Combined soil N . .............................
Salinity . ............................................
Lack of suitable bacteria . ................
Recovering form Stress . ................
Nitrogen Fixation Research in India

206
208
209
209
211
211

Chapter

9.

BIOLOGICAL MOBILIZATION
OF PHOSPHORUS . .................. 213 - 249

Forms of P Available in Soil . ...........

P Availability Issue . .........................
Mode of Action of PSMs . ................
Organic Acids and P Solubilization ..
Enzymes and P-solubilization . ........
Effect of PSMs on Growth and
P economy . .....................................
Duel Inoculation of P-Solubilizers
and Nitrogen Fixes . .........................
Isolation . ..........................................
Crop response . ...............................
Vesicular-Arbuscular
Mycorrhizae (VAM) . ........................
Roots as Sinks and Sources of
Nutrients and Carbon in
Agricultural Systems . ......................
Importance of Mycorrhiza . .............
Benefits to Plants . ...........................
Other Roles in Ecosystems . ..........
Values of People . ............................
Mycorrhizal Interaction with
Plants and Soil Organisms in
Sustainable Agroecosystem . ..........
Symbiosis . .......................................
Root System form . ..........................
Soil and site Factors influencing
Mycorrhizas . ...................................
Mycorrhizal Inoculum . ....................
Soil Disturbance . .............................
Soil Fertility . .....................................
Adverse Soil Conditions . .................
Characteristics of Fungal Isolates ..
Manipulating Mycorrhizal Fungi . .....
Types of Associations . ...................
Types of Mycorrhiza . ......................
Ectomycorrhiza . ..............................
Ectendomycorrhiza . ........................
Endomycorrhiza/Arbuscular
Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) . ...............
Arbutoid mycorrhiza . .......................
Monotropoid mycorrhiza . ................

213
214
215
215
216

216

217
217
218

219

220
223
224
225
225

225
227
228

230
230
231
231
231
231
232
232
234
234
235

235
235
235

Page No. Chapter

Ericoid mycorrhiza .............................235

Orchidoid mycorrhiza ........................235
Host Plants .........................................236
Place of Availability of Mycorrhizal
Plants . ................................................236
Mycorrhizal Fungi ..............................236
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal
Fungi (AMF) .......................................237
Establishment of Symbiosis ...............237
Classification of AMF . ....................... 238
Ectomycorrhizae (ECM) ....................239
Vesicular-Arbuscular
Mycorrhiza (VAM) ..............................240
How mycorrhizas Work .....................241
Nutrient Depletion Zones . ................. 241
Hyphal Activity ...................................241
Mycorrhizal Dependency ..................242
Obligatorily Mycorrhizal Plants . ........ 243
Facultatively Mycorrhizal Plants . ..... 243
Non-mycorrhizal plants .....................243
Mycorrhizal Fungi and
Pathogen Interaction ..........................243
Nitrogen Transfer in
Mycorrhizal Plants .............................244
Nitrogen Nutrition in
Mycorrhizal Plants .............................245
Forms of Nitrogen Used by
Mycorrhizal Associations ..................245
Mycorrhizal Effects on
Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation . .....245
P Response Curves ..........................246
Inoculation Methods ...........................247
A. Trasplanted crops . ....................... 247
B. Plant directly sown in the field ....... 247
Mycorrhizal pellets .............................247
Fluid drilling .........................................248
Inoculation in furrows . ....................... 248
Pre-cropping ......................................248
Appropriate VA mycorrhizal
Technology .........................................249
A. Transplanted crops .......................249
B. Field sown crops ...........................249
10.

THE CYCLIC SYSTEM OF

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT . ..... 250 - 306

Geographical Nutrient Transfer . .......250

Natural transfers (nutrient flows in
landscapes) . .....................................251
Nutrient transfer into cities .................251

Page No.

Export into other countries . .............. 252

The Concern ......................................252
Future nutrient shortages . ................ 253
From Nutrient Flows to Cycles . ....... 254
Organic Farming and Waste
Recycling . ..........................................255
The Cyclic System For Nutrient
Management ......................................256
Minimizing Nutrient Losses . .............. 256
Changes in soil slope . ....................... 257
Soil cover ............................................258
Harnessing Untapped
Nutrient Sources ................................259
Exploring Internal Nutrient
Sources . ............................................ 260
Better use of Nutrient Sources . ........ 261
Soil nutrient and soil
fertility aspects ...................................261
Optimum soil reaction . ...................... 262
Soil organic matter .............................262
Organic Materials . ............................. 263
Crop residues and farm
manures . ........................................... 263
Commercial and industrial waste
products . ........................................... 264
Other organic fertilizers . ................... 264
Better Nutrient Management for
Crops and Crop Rotations . .............. 264
Adaptation of crops and crop
rotations to nutrient supply . .............. 264
Adaptation of crop rotations to
nutrient supply . .................................. 265
Nutrient Management for Quality
Products and Stress Resistance ...... 265
Higher quality of food and fodder
products . ........................................... 265
Nutrient management of grass
land for fodder quality . ...................... 266
Higher stress resistance of
crops due to better nutrition . ............. 266
Nutrient Management in
Farming Systems . ............................. 267
Efficient Nutrient-Recycling with
Agroforestry . ..................................... 267
Recycling paths: short-term
and longer-term . ................................ 270
Agroforestry Systems .......................271
Role of Agroforestry . ......................... 271
Agroforestry for soil enrichment . .......272
Ecological balance .............................272
Organic matter and nutrient

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Chapter

Page No. Chapter

addition to soil . .................................. 273

Biological Nitrogen fixation . .............. 273
Nutrient cycling . ............................... 274
Conclusion . ....................................... 274
Exploitation Cropping vs Sustinable
Agriculture True at Different
Yield Levels . ..................................... 275
Exploitation cropping . ....................... 275
Sustainable agriculture at
low to medium yield level . ................ 276
Extensive sustainable farming . ........ 277
Bio-or-ecofarming
(deliberate extensive farming) . ........ 277
Sustainable agriculture at
high yield level . ................................. 277
Nutrient Management on
Arid Lands . ....................................... 278
Saline soils . ....................................... 280
Nutrient Management in
Humid Tropics . ................................. 280
Rice cropping on paddy soils . ......... 281
Agroforestry . .................................... 281
Intergrated Nutrient Management .... 282
Integration of fertilizers with
bulky organics . ................................. 282
Green manuring with inorganic
fertilizers . .......................................... 283
Bio-fertilizers with inorganics . .......... 284
Integrated Approach In
Bio-fertilizer Use . .............................. 286
Low-Cost Technology For
Enrichment of Compost . .................. 286
Sugarcane trash compost . .............. 287
Biogas slurry . ................................... 287
Vermicompost . ................................. 289
Industrial wastes . ............................. 289
Municipal and sewage wastes . ........ 289
Management of Major Nutrients
(N, P, K) With Organic Sources . ..... 290
Nitrogen . ........................................... 290
Synchronization . .............................. 292
General Properties of
Nitrogen from Organic Sources . ..... 293
Cover Crops and Ridge Tillage in
Sustainable Farming . ....................... 294
Phosphorus . ..................................... 294
Mycorrhiza . ...................................... 296
Potassium . ........................................ 297
Biological Approach for
Secondary and . .....................................
Micronutrients Acquisition ............... 298

Page No.

Vam . ................................................
Plant Growth Promoting
Rhizobacteria (PGPR) . ...................
Organics . .........................................
Organic Farming vs
Biodynamic Farming . ......................
Principles of Biodynamic Farming ...
Rules for using Biodynamic
Agriculture . ......................................
Few Biodynamic Preparations . .......
Conclusion . ......................................

299
301
301
302
303
304
304
305

11.
PERSPECTIVES . ....................... 307 - 318

Constraints in Bio-Fertilizer Use .....

Production Constraints . ..................
Unavailability of appropriate
and efficient strains . ........................
Unavailability of a suitable carrier ....
Mutation during fermentation . .........
Lack of standards in packaging . ....
Market Level Constraints . ..............
Lack of awareness of farmer . ........
Inadequate and
inexperienced staff . .........................
Lack of quality assurance . .............
Seasonal and unassured
demand . ...........................................
Limited scope for marketing . ..........
Resource Constraints . ...................
Limited resources generation
for BF production . ...........................
Limited risk taking capacity
of farmers . .......................................
Field Level Constraints . ..................
Soil and climatic factors . .................
Native microbial population . ............
Faulty inoculation techniques . ........
Crop management . .........................
Quality control . ................................
Research and Development
Needs . .............................................
Widening Research Base . ..............
Screening New Efficient Strains . ....
Improvement in Production
Technology . .....................................
Preparation of Bio-fertilizer Map . ....
Quality Assurance . .........................
Improving Distribution System . .......
Improving Technical
Support System . .............................

308
308
309
309
309
311
311
311
311
312
312
312
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312
312
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313
313
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Institutional Support for

16.
Research and Development . ............ 316
Quality Control . ................................. 316 PLANT ECONOMICS OF BIOFERTIL Promotional Strategies . ..................... 318 IZERS (ORGANIC FERTILIZERS) FROM
Future Thrusts . ................................. 318 GARBAGE (MSW) . .................... 340 - 341
Plant & Machinery . ............................ 340
12.
Fixed Capital ......................................341
LIST OF BIO-FERTILIZERS
Raw Materials . .................................. 341
UNITS IN INDIA AND ABROAD 319 - 333 Total Working Capital/Month ..............341
Total Capital Investment ....................341
List of Bio-Fertilizer Units in India . .... 319
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 341
13.
17.
PLANT ECONOMICS OF AGROPLANT ECONOMICS OF
FERTILIZER FROM LEAVES . ... 334 - 335 ORGANIC MANURE . ................. 342 - 343
Plant & Machinery . ............................ 334
Plant & Machinery . ............................ 342
Fixed Capital . .................................... 334
Fixed Capital ......................................342
Raw Materials . .................................. 334
Raw Materials . .................................. 342
Total Working Capital/Month . ............ 334
Total Working Capital/Month ..............342
Total Capital Investment . .................. 335
Total Capital Investment ....................343
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 335
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 343
14.
18.
PLANT ECONOMICS OF
PLANT ECONOMICS OF SEA
BIOFERTILIZERS FROM
WEED LIQUID FERTILIZER . .... 344 - 345
CHICKEN REFUGES, OIL
CAKES, BONE MILLS . .............. 336 - 337 Plant & Machinery . ............................ 344
Fixed Capital ......................................344
Plant & Machinery . ............................ 336
Raw Materials . .................................. 344
Fixed Capital . .................................... 336
Total Working Capital/Month ..............345
Raw Materials . .................................. 337
Total Capital Investment ....................345
Total Working Capital/Month . ............ 337
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 345
Total Capital Investment . .................. 337
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 337
19.
15.
PLANT ECONOMICS OF
BIOFERTILIZERS FROM
COWDUNG & OTHER
WASTAGE . ................................. 338 - 339

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314
314
315
315

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313
314
314

Page No. Chapter

Plant & Machinery . ............................ 338

Fixed Capital . .................................... 338
Raw Materials . .................................. 338
Total Working Capital/Month . ............ 339
Total Capital Investment . .................. 339
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 339

PLANT ECONOMICS OF VERMICOMPOSTING . .......................... 346 - 346

Plant & Machinery . ............................ 346

Fixed Capital ......................................346
Raw Materials . .................................. 346
Total Working Capital/Month ..............346
Total Capital Investment ....................346
Turn Over/Annum . ............................ 346