Biofertilizers: Extension, Recommendations and Methods of consumption in Agricultural Crops

Paying attention to the issue of food security and community health and the importance of organic products consumption has increased the use of biofertilizers in recent decades. Biofertilizer is a product containing beneficial microorganisms that increases growth and supply of required elements for plants through various mechanisms. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria such as Pseudomonas and molecular nitrogen fixersers such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter and Azospirillum are the most important microorganisms used in biofertilizers production. The most important producers of biofertilizers include Europe, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Russia and the United States. In Iran, the production and consumption of biofertilizers has flourished and is developing in the last two decades. So far, a single global standard for quality control and application of biofertilizers has not been developed, however, in some countries, including Iran, standards and guidelines have been developed in this field. Biofertilizers are mainly produced in powder, liquid and granule forms. The main method of using biofertilizers for most agricultural crops is seed inoculation, however, seed immersion, seedlings, cuttings or saplings is also used. Fertigation can also be used for some fertilizers in surface, drip, sprinkler and underground irrigation systems. Soil application is recommended for use in orchards. Foliar application can also be used for some biofertilizers in agricultural and horticultural crops.