paddy straw compost (the composition is given as Supplement table 1) prepared as described by Gaind and lata was used for preparing the fortified biocontrol formulations based on previously optimized inoculum rate 1% v/w two types of compost mixture I and II were prepared under stationary conditions in plastic bags with foam stoppers compost mixture I was prepared by adding one cyanobacterial and one bacterial strain to paddy straw compost while compost mixture II was prepared by amendment of paddy straw compost with the bacterial strain alone