Scope of Biofertilizers in Agroforestry

Abstract

Biofertilizers have an important role to play in improving the nutrient supply and their availability to crops in the coming years. With almost double the quantity of nutrients being removed from the soil than what is added through the fertilisers, there is growing nutrient deficit causing major threat to the sustenance, soil health and crop productivity. The recent 60% hike in the prices of the inorganic fertilisers has resulted in the decline of their use underlining the need of "Integrated Nutrient Management" involving biofertilizer. Biofertilizers hold a promise to improve the crop yield and nutrient dynamics in agroforestry mainly as the tree represents a conduit through which the nutrient cycle flows making them sites for the accumulation of nutrient in an agro-ecosystem.