Tag: manures and fertilisers

A chemical fertilizer/artificial fertilizer is defined as any inorganic material of wholly or partially synthetic origin that is added to soil to sustain plant growth. Organic fertilizers are substances that are derived from the remains or byproducts of natural organisms which contain the essential nutrients for plant growth.

Leghaemoglobin is an oxygen scavanger. It combines with oxygen and protects nitrogenase, which catalyses the fixation of nitrogen under anaerobic conditions.

Biofertilizer is a substance that contains living organisms which is used to increase the fertility of the soil. It improves the growth of plant by increasing the content of the soil and thereby increasing the availability of nutrients to the host plant. Also, it does not allow pathogens to flourish. Various biofertilizers are Rhizobium, Azotobacter, blue green algae (BGA). They live in symbiotic association with the plants and provides nitrogen to the plant. 

Traditionally, cowdung is used as a fertilizer. It provides growing medium for plants. It is nutrient-rich fertilizer. It is either mixed into the soil or used as top dressing. However, methane (greenhouse gas) is emitted from cowdung when it is processed. Hence, it is replaced by biofertilizers. Biofertilizers are substances which contains live organisms and are used to increase fertilizer of the soil. Examples of biofertilizers include rhizobium, azotobacter, azospirillum and blue green algae(BGA).

Biofertilizer is a substance that contains living organisms which is used to increase the fertility of the soil. It improves the growth of plant by increasing the availability of nutrients to the host plant. Various biofertilizers are Rhizobium, Azotobacter, blue green algae (BGA). Algae have ability of nitrogen fixation, therefore adding organic matter and extra nitrogen to the soil. This increases the soil fertility. 

Leguminous plants are in symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Rhizobium. These bacteria invade root hairs of leguminous plants and forms root nodules in which they fix nitrogen. A red pigment present in the root nodules of leguminous plants is known as leghaemoglobin. Leghaemoglobin is an oxygen-carrier molecule.  It protects nitrogen-fixing enzyme nitrogenase from the side effect of oxygen as the enzyme is highly sensitive to oxygen.

Legumes are in symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Rhizobium. They fix nitrogen with the help of bacteria that live in their roots. These bacteria invade root hairs of leguminous plants and forms root nodules in which they fix nitrogen. Rood nodules are found in some other plants also apart from leguminous plants. A red pigment present in the root nodules of leguminous plants is known as leghaemoglobin. 

Atmospheric nitrogen is not available to the plants. Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium compounds and make it available to the plants. There are two types of bacteria, free-living and symbiotic. Example of free living nitrogen fixing bacteria include Azotobacter. The example of symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria includes Rhizobium. Rhizobium lives in symbiotic association with the legume plants in the root nodules and fixes atmospheric nitrogen. Root nodules of legume plants contains leghaemoglobin. This acts as an oxygen scavanger.