Biofertilizers - a cheap and accessible alternative
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| Credit IAEA |
Selected and cultured rhizobia bacteria have been demonstrated to significantly increase legume production and improve soil nitrogen levels for subsequent cereal crops. The IAEA is sponsoring a technical co-operation project, targeted at smallholder farmers in all provinces of Zimbabwe (see previous issue). Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia have also indicated interest in biofertilizers - the technique will be of greatest potential where commercial fertilizers are either difficult to obtain or are too costly for small and marginal farmers.
In Bangladesh another IAEA Model Project has established a demonstration plant for large scale production of Rhizobium biofertilizers. Early field trials have already shown that the technology increases yields between 30 and 70% for lentils, soybeans, chick-peas and peanuts. Large scale adoption could save the country an estimated US$ 23 million/yr in imported grains and US$ 6 million/yr in imported chemical fertilizers.
The increased agricultural productivity is brought about by the use of nitrogen-15 (15N) isotope tracer techniques developed by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division. The technique allows the identification of efficient Rhizobium bacteria strains to match appropriate legumes for the use in making biofertilizers.
