Azotobacter is free living nitrogen fixing aerobic bacterium. It is used as a bio fertilizer for all non-leguminous plants especially rice, cotton, sugarcane, plantation crops, spices, vegetables etc.

The bacterium is affected by high acidity, high salt content and high temperature. It grows well in waterlogged paddy fields. The addition of organic matter improves the quantity of nitrogen fixed by the bio fertilizer. Azotobacter fixes about 15-20kgnitrogen/ha under ideal upland condition.

Commercially it is available as carrier based inoculum.The recommended method of application includes seed treatment, seedling dip and direct soil application.

Take 500gram culture in a plastic tray/basin. Moisten the seeds by sprinkling water or rice-gruel water (500 ml). Add culture, mix well and dry in shade for 30 minutes. The treated seed should be sown immediately.

For seedling dip the slurry of the culture is prepared by mixing 500g culture with 2.5 litre of water. The roots of the seedlings used for transplanting is dipped in the slurry for 15-20 minutes before transplanting.

For soil application one kilogram of the culture is mixed with 25 kilogram of FYM or compost and applied directly in the soil.For crop of six-month duration, the recommended dose is 1-2 kg/ha. This can be increased to 2-4 kg/ha for crops more than six months duration.

For perennial crops, 10 to 25 gram of the bio fertilizer is to be applied in the root zone during the first year and 25 to 50 gram during subsequent years. This can be done at the time of sowing, transplanting or during intercultivation.

Azotobacter is free living nitrogen fixing aerobic bacterium. It is used as a bio fertilizer for all non-leguminous plants especially rice, cotton, sugarcane, plantation crops, spices, vegetables etc.

The bacterium is affected by high acidity, high salt content and high temperature. It grows well in waterlogged paddy fields. The addition of organic matter improves the quantity of nitrogen fixed by the bio fertilizer. Azotobacter fixes about 15-20kgnitrogen/ha under ideal upland condition.

Commercially it is available as carrier based inoculum.The recommended method of application includes seed treatment, seedling dip and direct soil application.

Take 500gram culture in a plastic tray/basin. Moisten the seeds by sprinkling water or rice-gruel water (500 ml). Add culture, mix well and dry in shade for 30 minutes. The treated seed should be sown immediately.

For seedling dip the slurry of the culture is prepared by mixing 500g culture with 2.5 litre of water. The roots of the seedlings used for transplanting is dipped in the slurry for 15-20 minutes before transplanting.

For soil application one kilogram of the culture is mixed with 25 kilogram of FYM or compost and applied directly in the soil.For crop of six-month duration, the recommended dose is 1-2 kg/ha. This can be increased to 2-4 kg/ha for crops more than six months duration.

For perennial crops, 10 to 25 gram of the bio fertilizer is to be applied in the root zone during the first year and 25 to 50 gram during subsequent years. This can be done at the time of sowing, transplanting or during intercultivation.