Rhizobium biofertilizer for Pigeonpea (Rhizo-1)

Background :
Pigeon pea is widely grown in India and also is hugely imported to meet the increasing demand. However, due to climate change and adverse abiotic stress factors, increase in productivity of pigeon pea is challenging. Factors like increasing temperature and decline in soil organic carbon decrease nodulation in this crop. This occurs due to reduced population of rhizobia (bacteria) in soil. To enhance crop productivity, there is need of inoculation of rhizobia to this crop :

In this regard, research was carried out to identify potential nitrogen fixing rhizobia for pigeon pea. About 700 isolates screened and out of which few strains identified as most efficient ones. A liquid bioformulation was developed using Bradyrhizobia sp. Application of liquid biofertilizer enhanced crop yield significantly over un-inoculated control. Strains gene sequences have been deposited at NCBI (BRP 2 = Accession no MT279922). The strains were also deposited at NBAIM with NAIMCC Acc. No TB-3213 :

The novelty of the formulation is that it is specific for pigeon pea crop. The product can be useful in most areas of Madhya Pradesh as well as other parts of the country. Farmers can use this product and apply as per recommendation to improve yield of pigeon pea. :

Technology Details :
Agricultural sustainability will require an increase in the utilization of Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) as a major source of nitrogen for plants. The process of BNF offers an economically attractive and ecologically beneficial means of reducing external nitrogen input and improving the quality and quantity of leguminous crop. As we know that the rhizobial population is low in the agricultural field. The liquid biofertilizer formulated using Rhizo -1 strain replenishes the population of rhizobia in the Indian soils which increases the BNF in pigeonpea crop :

Product specification: :

• The product is a liquid biofertilizer developed to improve nitrogen use efficiency in pigeon pea. The product contains consortia of nitrogen fixing bacteria namely Bradyrhizobium sp. :
• The product was developed to enhance nodulation in pigeonpea as the population of native soil rhizobia has gone down drastically over the years. Therefore, to enhance the effective nodulation application of the product is essential. :
• Application of the product increases 10-15% in pigeonpea grain yields and 30-35% straw yield by seed inoculation. :
• The liquid formulation contains 108 cells/ml of product :
• The product has a shelf life of 1 year at room temperature :