2.3. BGA biofertilizer production and application
The BGA strains namely Nostoc sp., Anabaena doliolum, Calothrix sp., Westiellopsis sp. and Phormidium papyraceum were isolated from FA dumping sites near NTPC, Unchahar. After their identification as described previously (Dwivedi et al., 2006), they were grown independently under controlled culture conditions (115 μmol m−2 s−1 light with 14 h photoperiod at 25 ± 2 °C). For mass production, a mixture of these strains was developed at BGA biofertilizer production center at Bakshi Ka Talab, Lucknow with cooperation of Biotechnology cell, Uttar Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (UPCST), Lucknow. The dried flakes of BGA biofertilizer were applied under waterlogged condition in GS and FA amended plots after seven days of transplantation.