Potential Production and Application of Biofertilizers in Sudan

Abstract

INTRODUCTION During the last decades, the increased costs of fertilizer production coupled with the progressively increasing use of chemical fertilizers are adding to the cost of crop cultivation. In addition, chemical fertilizers are harmful when they persist in the soil and enter the food chain. Instead, an approach is adopted to introduce into the soil potential microorganism, a practice known as inoculation. The inoculants are also known as biofertilizers. Several microorganisms and their association with crop plants are being exploited in the production of biofertilizers. The microorganisms which are potential biofertilizers are symbiotic and nonsymbiotic nitrogen fixing microorganisms, phosphorous solubilizing microorganisms and silicate bacteria. The potential uses of biofertilizers in agriculture play an important role of providing an economically viable level for achieving the ultimate goal to enhance productivity. On the other hand, the value of organic materials as a source of plant nutrients is greatly enhanced by composting. Composted materials are also more stable and pleasant to handle. In this paper the discussion is restricted to a review of the main groups of microbial biofertilizers in addition to fertilizers from the organic origin.