Bio-inoculants are living organisms containing strains of specific bacteria, fungi, or algae which:
- take nitrogen from the air and make it available to plants- reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizer.
- make inorganic phosphate and micronutrients soluble and available to plants.
- collect and store available nutrients.
- enhance plant uptake of phosphorus and zinc.
- provide physical barriers against pathogens.
- stimulate plant growth.
- decompose organic residues.
Biological nitrogen-fixation
Atmospheric nitrogen is taken from the air-or "fixed"-by micro-organisms which live on some leguminous and non leguminous plants.
Rhizobium
These bacteria live in nodules on the roots of legumes. Legume seeds can be inoculated to encourage the growth of nitrogen fixing nodules.