The recommended biofertilizer for tomato are Azotobacter in combination with PSB. However, mycorrhizal inoculation also gives additional benefit for mobilizing nutrients. Biofertilizers are applied as seed, seedling root dip and soil application method.

1
INTRODUCTION
The recommended biofertilizer for
tomato are Azotobacter in combination with PSB.
However, mycorrhizal inoculation also gives
additional benefit for mobilizing nutrients.
Biofertilizers are applied as seed, seedling root
dip and soil application method. Mycorrhizal
biofertilizer is another aspect in tomato
seedling treatment.
2
BIOFERTILIZER APPLICATION IN TOMATO
BIOFERTILIZER RECOMMENDATION
AZOTOBACTER PSB MYCORRHIZA
3
SEED TREATMENT
Keep the seeds required for sowing one acre in
a heap on a clean-cemented floor or gunny bag.
Prepare culture suspension by mixing one
packet (200g) each of Azotobacter and PSB
biofertilizer in approx . 800 ml water Sprinkle
culture suspension on the tomato seeds and mix
Spread the seeds under shade for sometime for
drying and then sow. In place of water, rice glue
Kanji can also be used for better results
4
SEEDLING ROOT DIP METHOD
Prepare the suspension by mixing l kg (5
packets) each of Azotobacter and PSB culture in
15-20 litres of water. Get the tomato seedlings
required for one acre of land Dip root portion
of seedlings in the suspension for 30 minutes and
transfer to the main field.
5
SOIL APPLICATION METHOD
Mix 2 3 kg each of the Azotobacter and PSB
culture packets with 100 kg of well decomposed
cattle manure/ compost for one acre of land and
Sprinkle water to the mixer Keep the mixer
overnight for curing Broadcast into soil at the
time of planting or at the time of irrigation
For long duration crop 20-30 packets of
biofertilizer (200g) are mixed with 80-120 kg.
Cattle manure or soil for one acre land
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Mycorrhizal Application in Tomato
Apply mycorrhizal culture in the grape nursery _at_
100 gm per sq.m. three centimeter below the
soil For out planting, apply 20 gm mycorrhizal
culture per seedling into the planting pit and
cover with soil For existing plant, apply
mycorrhizal culture _at_ 200 gm near the root zone
along with other fertilizers
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LET US SUM UP
The mostly recommended biofertilizer for tomato
are Azotobacter in combination with PSB. Two
methods are broadly used for biofertilization
viz. seedling root dip and soil application
method. Mycorrhizal inoculation also gives
additional benefit for mobilizing
nutrients. Mycorrhizal biofertilizer is another
aspect in tomato seedling treatment.
8
ASSESSMENT
Q. State true or false i) Mycorrhizal
inoculation gives additional benefit for
mobilizing nutrients. ii) The ratio of
inoculant and water is 115. iii) 20-30 packets
of biofertilizer each containing 200g are mixed
with cattle manure or soil in case of perennial
crops.
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ASSESSMENT
Check your progress (Model Answers) i)
True ii) False iii) True
10
REFERENCES
i) Bio-fertilizer and Organic Farming NIIR
Board ii) Biofertilizers in Agriculture
N. S. Subba Rao iii) Biofertilizers
(Potentialities and Problems) S.P.Sen and
P. Palit