ABSTRACT:
Agriculture or farming, is the simplification of nature's food webs and re-channel energy for human planting and animal consumption. In the current scenario, farmers use inorganic fertilizers to provide nutrients to the soil. Fertilizers typically provide, in varying proportions, six macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S) and eight micronutrients: boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe),manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni). There are two types of fertilizers namely organic and inorganic/chemical fertilizers. A chemical fertilizer is defined as any inorganic material of wholly or partially synthetic origin that is added to the soil to sustain plant growth. Organic fertilizers are substances that are derived from the remains or by products of organisms which contain the essential nutrients for plant growth. Chemical fertilizers, in effect, “kill” the soil while organic fertilizers improve and sustain the soil. Chemical fertilizers provide short term results yet, in the long term, damage the soil, ground water and our health. Hence there is a need to opt for an alternative approach in the agricultural field. This paper reviews the various production methodologies of bio-fertilizers, the current research in its development and usage. There are many species which have been under research for developing biofertilizers like azolla, azospirillum, mycorrhiza, cyanobacteria etc. This paper focuses on the special features of sea weeds which can be used as a bio-fertilizers and the future perspective of the organic farming technology.