Types of Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers can be classified based on the microorganisms they contain:
- Nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers
- Rhizobium – used mainly for leguminous crops.
- Azotobacter – used for crops such as wheat, maize and vegetables.
- Azospirillum – commonly used for cereals and grasses.
- Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) – especially useful in rice cultivation.
- Phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizers
- Contain bacteria or fungi that convert insoluble phosphorus into forms plants can absorb.
- Examples: Bacillus, Pseudomonas.
- Phosphate-mobilizing biofertilizers
- Mycorrhizal fungi help plants absorb phosphorus and other nutrients from the soil.
- Potassium-solubilizing biofertilizers
- Microorganisms that make potassium available to plants.
- Zinc-solubilizing biofertilizers
- Microorganisms that increase the availability of zinc in soil.
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