Rice, wheat and pulses are staple food crops in India. Despite the well-known nutritiousness of this diet, malnutrition is wide spread due to a lack of energy, proteins and trace elements. The use of chemical phosphorus fertilizers is often very inefficient due to high sorption properties of the soils. The production of high quality food accompanied by soil fertility improvement and chemical input minimization are therefore of key importance in particular for the rural population in remote areas.
The scarcity of non-renewable resources such as soils and fertilizers, as well as the consequences of climate change, may dramatically influence the food security of future generations. The introduction of mutualistic root microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), also known as bio-fertilizers, is a sustainable way to increase plant yield and quality while improving soil quality.
In the third phase of this project, FiBL conceptualised and assisted in the implementation of a series of field trials, together with Indian and Swiss partners, where bio-fertilizers were tested with a focus on wheat (Triticum aestivum [L.]). The sites covered most states of Northern India where wheat is the major staple food crop and is planted in wheat-rice (Oriza sativa [L.]) or wheat-black gram (Vigna mungo [L.], Hepper) rotations. The results have shown that wheat yields can be increased by 41% upon inoculation of bio-fertilizers. In addition, macro- and micronutrients were enhanced and soil quality was improved as indicated by higher soil enzyme activities (alkaline and acid phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenase). We concluded that mutualistic root microorganisms have a high potential to contribute to food security and to improve the nutritional status in Southern countries, while safeguarding natural resources such as phosphorus stocks.
In the current fourth phase of the project bio-fertilizers will be developed for pigeon pea and finger millet inter-cropping systems traditionally grown in South India.
JAC
Swiss project Co-Ordinator
