原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 1

March, 2010

Tadashi Yokoyama, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT)
Shotaro Ando, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)
In order to supply food to increasing population in Asia,
agricultural production should be increased and a large
amount of fertilizer is required. Most of fertilizers are
chemical fertilizers, however oil and natural gas areneeded to produce chemical fertilizer and shortage ofrock phosphate, which is a low material for phosphorus
chemical fertilizer, is beginning a serious problem.
Furthermore, improper use of chemical fertilizer andother agrochemicals damage agro-environment, forexample nitrate pollution in ground water. Therefore,
establishment of environmental friendly sustainableagriculture in Asia and reduction of agrochemical input
are required. This biofertilizer project aims to reduce theamount of chemical fertilizer input without decreasing
yield of crops, by using function of beneficial
microorganisms in biofertilizer, which increaseavailability of plant nutrients from soil.

In the second phase of this project, we are devoting ourefforts to three objectives as follows. The first objective
is development of multi-functional biofertilizer, which
consists of multiple inoculants with promoting plant
growth or inhibiting plant diseases. Concerning thisdevelopment, several isolates inhibiting plant diseases
have been discovered and China, Thai, Philippine, andVietnam researchers are finding new combinations of
inoculants, which show positive effect on plant growthin greenhouse and field experiments. The second
objective is improvement of inoculants by radiationbased microbial mutation breeding in order to keep highquality of inoculants under tropical conditions. Japaneseand Korean researchers started radiation-based
microbial mutation breeding to obtain strains, which aretolerant to high temperature and drought stresses.
Several promising stains were successfully obtained in2009. The third objective is dissemination of radiation
sterilization method of carrier using 60Co to improve
quality of carrier for biofertilizer. Some private sectors
in Indonesia and Malaysia have already started radiation
sterilization of their carriers using 60Co .
In this news letter, we introduce activities of the FNCA
biofertilizer project in 2009. Promoting understandingof biofertilizer, strengthening linkage between end-usersof biofertilizer, farmers union, and fertilizer producers,
and dissemination of biofertilizer are important toestablish environmental friendly sustainable agriculture
in Asia.

We carried out the first phase of biofertilizer projectfrom 2001 to 2006. Important outcomes from the firstphase were as follows. We found universal carrier forbiofertilizer in the Philippines and confirmed theeffectiveness of biofertilizer to several crop productions
by field experiments. Furthermore, we confirmed higher
microbial activities in carriers sterilized by irradiation
than by autoclave and also demonstrated that use of
biofertilizer increased farmer s income by reducing thecost of chemical fertilizer application. Biofertilizer
Manual, which was the outcome from the first phase,
can be downloaded from the website of the FNCA.

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 2

Safety and Quality
Quality Requirement
Requirement ofof Bio-pesticides
Bio-pesticides inin JapanJapan
Masataka Aino,
Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Bio-pesticides are considered to be a moreenvironmentally sound agents than the chemical
counterparts for controlling crop diseases.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries, Japan (MAFF) has revised theAgricultural Chemicals Regulation Law tominimize the intake of chemical residues throughfoods based upon the concept of Positive List
System of Agricultural Chemical Residues inFoods. In addition to the direct adverse effect ofpesticides on human health, scientists express amore serious concern of their effect on thesurrounding ecosystem, and indirectly on humanhealth.
In view of the potential risk of the chemical
pesticides, biologically-based pesticides, such as
microbial pesticides, become increasingly
popular because of people’s preference oforganic-/bio-products over the chemical
counterparts. However, all the microbes are notnecessary to be safe when they are used as biopesticides; it is the minimum requirement,

therefore, to confirm the safety of the biopesticides against men, animals and thesurrounding ecosystem when registered to MAFF.
For the registration of bio-pesticides, MAFF
requests a variety of relevant documents such as
toxicology data of microbial against not only
human and animals health (Acute oral toxicity,
acute dermal toxicity, acute pulmonary toxicity,
acute injection toxicity, primary eye irritation,dermal irritation, hypersensivity incidents), butalso non-target organism and environmental
toxicity (Toxicity against freshwater fish, avian,plant, non-target insect, honey bee, silkworm, soil
microorganisms). In addition, analytical andresidual data of the pesticides shall be attached.
As of 28 bio-pesticides have been registered to
MAFF for a commercial use in Japan. Currently,
the bio-pesticide production is only about 0.1%of the chemical counterparts. But, with anincrease in their popularity among producers andconsumers, from now onward, it is most likely toincrease the reiterated bio-pesticides.

ISR-agent : Pseudomonas fluorescens

The suppression effect of Cell-Nae-Genki on tomato
bacterial wilt under field condition

Bio-pesticide:Cell-Nae-genki

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 3

Deep
Deep Placement
Placement ofof LimeLime Nitrogen
Nitrogen oror Coated
Coated Urea
Urea andand Paper
Paper Pot
Pot
Inoculation
Inoculation Method
Method Promote
Promote Soybean
Soybean Growth
Growth andand Nitrogen
Nitrogen Fixation
Fixation
Takuji Ohyama, Niigata University

Average soybean yield in Japan is low (1.64t/ha:2008) compared with the potential yield. Soybean
plants use the N derived from three sources; N2
fixation, soil N, and fertilizer N. A heavy supplyof N fertilizer usually depresses nodule
development and N2 fixation activity, whichsometimes results in the reduction of seed yield.
We developed a new fertilization technique forsoybean cultivation by deep placement (at 20 cm
depth from soil surface) of slow release N
fertilizers, coated urea and lime nitrogen (calcium
cyanamide) at the rate of 100kgN/ha. In addition,
paper pot inoculation method of rhizobia was
examined. Figures show the results of theexperiment in the first cropping of reclaimed
field, where no rhizobia could be detected.
Without inoculation and additional fertilizer(Control) plant growth was very poor and theseed yield is about 10g/plant. When rhizobia were
inoculated in paper pot or seed inculation, plant
growth was promoted and the seed yield
increased to about 23 g/plant. When deep
placement of coated urea or Lime nitrogen was
supplied, seed yield was as much as 40 g/plant.
The treatments consistently promoted seed yieldcompared with conventional cultivation in thefield with various type of soils. Fertilizer N was
efficiently used to supplement N during seedfilling stage without concomitant depression of
nitrogen fixation and nodule growth. The result
showed that deep placement of lime nitrogen or
coated urea promoted nodulation and N2 fixationin the upper root system at pod filling stage.

The effect of deep placement of urea, coated urea (CU-100)
or lime nitrogen (CaCN2) and paper pot inoculation on theyield of soybeans cultivated in the first cropping ofreclaimed field

References
Takahashi Y,Chinushi T, Nakano T, Ohyama T (1992)
Evaluation of N2 fixation and N absorption activity byrelative ureide method in field grown soybean plants withdeep placement of coated urea. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 38, 699708
Tewari K, Onda M, Ito S, Yamazaki A, Fujikake H, Ohtake
N, Sueyoshi K, Takahashi Y, Ohyama T, (2005)15

N analysis

of promotive effect of deep placement of slow release N
fertilizers on growth and seed yield of soybean, Soil Sci.
Plant Nutr., 51, 501-512
Tewari K, Onda M, Ito S, Yamazaki A, Fujikake H, Ohtake
N, Sueyoshi K, Takahashi Y, Nagumo Y, Tsuchida T, andOhyama T, (2006a) Comparison of the depth of placement oflime nitrogen on growth, N2 fixation activity, seed yield andquality of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) plants. Soil Sci.
Plant Nutr., 52, 453-463
Tewari K, Onda M, Ito S, Yamazaki A, Fujikake H, Ohtake
N, Sueyoshi K, Takahashi Y, Nagumo Y, Tsuchida T, andOhyama T (2006b) Effect of deep placement of slow releasefertilizer (lime nitrogen) applied at different rates on growth,N2 fixation and yield of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). J.
of Agronomy and Crop Science, 192, 417-426

Photo of plant growth in the same field3

原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 4

Application Potentiality
Potentiality ofof Ion-BeamIon-Beam Mutation
Mutation Breeding
Breeding
Technology in Biofertilizer / Biopesticide
Issay Narumi, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)

Mutation breeding is one of the valuable breeding
techniques. Ionizing radiation, especially gammarays, has been used for several decades to
produce new plant varieties. In addition,
mutation-breeding technology using ion beamirradiation has undergone major developments inrecent years, and has been applied to various
bioresources such as ornamental plants, crops andindustrial microbes. Generally, the biologicaleffectiveness of ion beam irradiation is higher
than that of gamma irradiation. In fact, it has
been shown that ion beam mutagenesis has a highmutation frequency and a broad spectrum of
mutation compared to gamma-ray mutagenesis inchrysanthemum. In another instance, it has beenshown that ion beam irradiation can induce single
base substitutions as well as large and complex
alterations in Aspergillus oryzae genome.
Ion-beam mutation-breeding technology will be a
promised way to produce biofertilizer/biopesticide
inoculants for the next generation. Several
collaborative studies have started to improve thephenotype of inoculants using the ion beamirradiation facility at Japan Atomic Energy

Agency (JAEA). For example, the selection ofenvironmental stress-tolerant mutants for
Bradyrhizobium japonicum, the selection ofboard-host-range mutants for Pseudomonas
fluorescens, and the selection of fungicideresistant mutants for Paecilomyces fumosoroseus
are planned for this year.
After creating the desired mutant by mutagenesis,
it is needed to determine the genotypic difference
between the mutant and its parental strain.
Getting a clearer picture of genomic alteration
can help us ensure the safety and traceability of
inoculants. Next-generation DNA sequencer thatcan read the microbe genome in a short time will
make a significant contribution in this regard.

Azimuthally varying field (AVF) cyclotron at JAEA-TIARA

Depth-controlled seed irradiation equipment at JAEATIARA (Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation
Application)

Microbe samples on membrane filter ready to irradiate4

原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 5

EffectEffect ofof Difference
Difference ofof Inoculation
Inoculation Method
Method andand Inoculum
Inoculum Density
Density ofof Bradyrhizobium
japonicum
japonicum USDA110
USDA110 on
on Production
Production ofof Soybean
Soybean (( Glycine max L.
L. Merr.)
Merr.)
Takeo Yamakawa, Kyushu University(Acetylene Reduction Activity) of the nodule in
SI5 plot were significantly higher than NI plot,
and the occupation ratio of serotype USDA110 of
the nodule in SI7 plot was significantly higher
than NI plot from initial growth, and it was
assumed that the fixed nitrogen was distributed inlarge amount to pod and seed, and from this result
seed yield significantly increased compared with
NI plot. In PI9 plot, many nodules of USDA110
were formed and seed yield significantly
increased compared with NI plot, but ARA wassignificantly lower than NI plot at V6.4, so thereason why yield significantly increased was still
unclear. In PI7 plot many nodules were formed
and ARA was significantly higher than otherplots but occupation of serotype USDA110 in the
nodule was low and seed yield did not increase.
For seed coating inoculation, it was thought thatthe inoculation of 105 cells seed-1 was an effective
inoculation rate since no further increase of theseed yield was observed by high density (107cells seed-1) amount. For previous soil
inoculation, the result of PI9 plot indicated thatthe inoculation method using peat moss was
effective and the inoculum density was enoughmuch the same density of indigenous rhizobia.

Root nodule bacteria build up symbiotic
relationships with legume plants and induce thenodule that this organ fix N2. On soybean(Glycine max L. Merr.), the inoculation methodof useful Bradyrhizobium strains with high N2
fixing efficiency on seed surface is popularizedwidely. But, occupation ration of useful strains
inoculated on the seed coat is usually low becauseof their low competition against indigenous
rhizobia. Therefore, several inoculation
techniques to increase occupation of useful
Bradyrhizobium starain USDA110 on soybean
root were investigaed.
The object of this research was to clarify theeffect of inoculation method and inoculum
density of USDA110 on production of soybean.
In 2006, five experimental plots were designed
for no inoculation (NI), two seed coating
inoculation at the density of 105 (SI5) and 107
cells seed-1 (SI7), and two soil inoculation at theestimated density of 1.7×103 (PI7) and 1.7×105
cells g-1 soil (PI9) . PI plot was plowed after
sprinkling of peat moss dredged with USDA110l
culture. The density of indigenous rhizobia in thisfield was about 1.4×105 cells g-1 soil. Therefore,
occupation ratio of serotype USDA110 and ARA

Table 1. Transition of nodule number in each growth stage effected by inoculation methods

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 6

Table 2. Occupation ratio of serotype USDA110 in nodule of each growth stage.

-1

Table 3. Acetylene reduction activity (ARA: μmole g DW) at each growth stage

Table 4. Seed yield and yield components of each treatment

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:36 ページ 7

Biofertilizer and Its Application in China
Fan Bingquan, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)

In China, the Study of biofertilizers has started
from 50s of 20th century. At present, biofertilizers
have been developed from single strain inoculant
into multi-functional products, which canpromote growth of crops obviously, provide N-PK nuitrients, prevente soil-born diseases andimprove soil quality. By the year of 2008, about
500 enterprises manufacture biofertilizers in
China, 11 kinds of products and registed products
are about 700 including rhizobia, associate
Nitrogen-fixation bacteria, P-solubilzing strains,P-decomposing bacteria, silicate bacteria,
pesticide & herbcide degradation, PGPR. The
total production is over 5200 ton/y.

For the first time in China, we executed screeningof high efficient strains in country-wide. From1996 to 2005, we isolated hundreds of Psolubilizing microbes, pestcides & herbicides
degrading microbes and rhizobium. Comparedwith literated strains, the new isolated strains
have exhibited more efficiency on Psolublization, pestcides & herbcides degradation
and N-fixation in soil, and besides, P-sulobilizingstrains such as P8(Penicillium oxalicum),Pn1(Penicillium oxalicum), P21 (Erwinia
herbicola var. ananas) and P40 (Citrobacter
freudii) are first isolated in China.
BHC-A(Sphingomonas sp.)for HCH degradation

Achievement of our research Group on
biofertilizer:(1) exploiting new microbial bio-resources forbiofertilizers

BTAH1(Exiguobacterium sp.)
for atrazine
Left : Penicillium oxalicum on Pikovkaya medium
Right : GFP gene-labelled Penicillium oxalicum P8 strain(2) We studied the suitability of selected strains
with host crops in various types of soils.
In regions of food-stuff production, pestcides
highly contaminated, legumina planting area, wehave systematically investigated suitable strainsof P-solubiling microbes, pestcides & herbcides
degrading bacteria and rhizobium which aresuitable in these regions.

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:37 ページ 9

Biofertilizer in Indonesia
Iswandi Anas,
National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) & Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)

Significant impact of continues and irrational
application of agrochemicals for agriculture andavoidance of using of organic fertilizer since theyears of seventies have been noticed significantly
in Indonesia. Soil degradation, environmental
pollution, leveling-off and decrease in land
productivity are among the negative impacts oflong application of chemical fertilizer. In the last
few years, tremendous increase in price ofchemical fertilizer has stimulated scientists,
governments and farmers to seek for alternative
fertilizers to chemical fertilizer i.e. organic
fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and bio-organic fertilizers(organic fertilizers enriched with beneficial soil
microbes). Organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers
are locally available, cheaper and environmentallyfriendly. Bio-fertilizers have been shown to benefit
for many crops such as food crops, horticulture aswell as for plantation crops.
Bio-fertilizer was only used for certain crops suchas Rhizobium for a certain legume such as soybean
and mycorrhizae for pine trees. Nowadays, somebeneficial soil microbes have been used as
inoculants, such as nitrogen fixing bacteria(Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobacter), phosphatesolubilizing microbes (bacteria and fungi),
mycorrizae, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria,
antagonist, endophytic fungi, and organic matter
degrader or decomposer. Indonesian Government
in combination c/q Ministry of Agriculture
strongly support the use of organic fertilizer andbio-fertilizer with or without chemical fertilizer. It
is also a common practice in Indonesia recently
that organic fertilizer is improved its quality byenriched organic fertilizer with beneficial soil
microbes known as bio-organic fertilizers.
Beneficial soil microbes applied are mostly
nitrogen fixing bacteria such as Azotobacter andAzospirillum and phosphate solubilizing microbes(Pseudomonas putida, Aspergillus and Penicellium
Figure 1.) and antagonist to plant pathogen such as
Trichoderma harzianum or T. viridae. Biofertilizers and bio-organic fertilizers are producedby farmers, small, medium and large scale privatecompanies and Indonesian Government. In 2009,
in order to support promotion of bio-organic
fertilizer, government provided as much as
400,000 tons of bio-organic fertilizers. This bioorganic fertilizers was distributed freely andsubsidized to the farmers.

Figure 1.

Phosphate solubilizing microbes(bacteria)

Phosphate solubilizing microbes(fungus)9

原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:37 ページ 10

Other significant and important government
support in promoting good quality of bio-fertilizer
and bio-organic fertilizer in Indonesia that
Ministry of Agriculture has recently imposed
Ministry Act/Decree related to the criteria andrequirement for organic fertilizer and bio-fertilizer
as well as for bio-organic fertilizer (Ministry
Decree No. 28/Permentan/SR.130/2009). The
main purpose of this Ministry Decree is to ensure
the organic, bio-fertilizer and bio-organic
fertilizers produced are good quality. Only
registered fertilizers and fertilizers which passed

quality and effectiveness tests granted Marketing
Certificate by Ministry of Agriculture can sell theirproduct to the free market in Indonesia. In 2009, as
much as 271 products of organic and bio-organic
fertilizers and 36 bio-fertilizers have been awarded
Certificate by Ministry of Agriculture.
Bio-fertilizer and bio-organic fertilizers with andwithout combination with chemical fertilizers havebeen shown to increase significantly yield of
several crops such as rice, corn, soybean, oil palm
(Fig. 2) and seedling of Acacia cracicarpa (Fig. 3)

Figure2. Bio-organic fertilizer (BIOST) reduced the amount of chemical fertilizer by 50% and reduced fertilizer
cost by 27% for seedlings and 24% for young oil palm trees (P.T. Sitosu Agro Cemerlang 2008) Azotobacter andPhosphate solubilizing were produced by Prof. Dr Iswandi Anas, IPB)

Figure 3. Ability of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing microbes to improve Acacia crassicarpa seedling(left), good and strong roots development with inoculation (center) and without inoculation (right)

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:37 ページ 11

Current Biofertilizer Research in Korea
Lee Young-Keun, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)

In Korea, at the moment, mutant induction for the
improved function of the biofertilizer is carryingout (nitrogen fixation, nutrient solubilization,
antifungal activity, phytohormone production,
environmental tolerance, etc.). Researches of field
experiments and price reduction of irradiation forthe carrier of biofertilizer will be followed. We
have only 2 commercial irradiation facilities. One
is for the sterilization of medical supplies (SOYA)
and the other is for the sterilization of the 20
authorized items such as spices, etc.
(GREENPIA). It is quite difficult economicallyfor small and medium industry to transport andirradiate carrier because this is located at Keonggi province.
We induced mineral phosphate solubilizing
mutants (6 from Pantoea dispersa P2, 6 from
Pantoea dispersa P3, and 6 from Pantoea terrea
P4) and antifungal metabolite producing mutants(2 from Paenibacillus lentimorbus and 1 from
Bacillus sp. HKA-17) by using gamma ray
radiation. P. lentimorbus WJ5a17 (mutant) was

inoculated with zeolite (diluent), CMC (sticker),
Congo red (UV protectant), and starch (nutrient).
It was effective at the extent of 66.2% of Propineb
against Colletotrichum spp. in red pepper, 84.4%
and 73.4% of Diclomezine against Fusarium
oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani, respectively,
in Chinese cabbage, and 90.8% of Flukioxonil
against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and 66.2% of
Etridiazole against Pythium ultimum in raddish.
It will be possible for the industry which have
irradiator to gather, transport, irradiate, anddistribute the carrier of biofertilizer free of charge
to the farmers union. Because there are about 60
small and medium producers domestically.
Agricultural ministry can provide partly pricereduction during the delivery from farmers union
to farmer as a manner of subsidy. For the time
being, we don t have that much budgets to dointernational co-works, but our government is
expected to create and increase budgets because
green growth has been adopted as a national
policy from 2008.

Control

propinebu

Mutants of Pantoea sp. with enhanced as well as defective
mineral phosphate solubilizing activity
Antifungal agent(P. lentimorbus WJ5a17),
X100 diluted

Antigungal spectra of Paenibacilllus lentimorbus WJ5 andmutant against plant pathogenic fungi
A. Alternaria alternate; B. Botrytis cinerea;
C. Botryoshaeria dothidea; D. Colletotrichium gloeospriodes;
E. Phythium ultimum; F. Fusarium oxysporum;
G. Alternaria solani; H. Phytophthora capsici;
I. Pyricularia grisea; J. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Antifungal agent(P. lentimorbus WJ5a17),
X100 diluted

Effect of antifungal metabolite on hyphal morphology
DP: depression, BS: bulging and swelling,
DH: degradation of hyphae, SH: shriveled hyphae,
EH: empted hyphae, SHT: swelling of hyphal tip

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:37 ページ 12News on Biofertilizer
Biofertilizer Projects
Projects in
in Malaysia
Malaysia
Khairuddin Abdul Rahim, Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia)

Biofertilizer has been increasingly been acceptedby the agricultural community in Malaysia. The
notion that biofertilizer is the same as organic
fertilizer or compost is diminishing as more
farmers and the plantation industry are now awarethat biofertilizer refers to the functional living
microorganisms, and not to the organic matter(including composts) which is used as the carrier
in many biofertilizer products. The incorporationof these two main components leads to coinage ofthe term bioorganic fertilizer .
Research on new biofertilizer microorganisms,
either involving single strain multifunctional
microorganisms or on consortia of microorganisms
with each member imparting a specific function(e.g. N2 fixing, phosphate solubilising, potassium
solubilising, plant growth promoting) flourish inacademic institutions (especially at Universiti
Putra Malaysia), research institutions (including
MARDI and Malaysian Nuclear Agency) and the
local microbe-based companies. The present
environment is encouraging, with increasingawareness on green technologies and green products
amongst the producers, and also to the new market
pull for green agriculture and organic farming ,and the need for less dependency on
agrochemicals in agricultural production.
Mass production of biofertilizers and bioorganic
fertilizers requires quality control of the functional
microorganisms as well as the carriers or
substrates. The right carriers or substrates
contribute to the ease of application of thebiofertilizer products by the farmers or plantation
workers onto the crops. Amongst the requirement
for a biofertilizer product is the presence of a pure
inoculums in a sterilised carrier or substrate. The
current practice of most biofertilizer companies tosterilise their carriers using the autoclave may need
to be reviewed in terms of sterilisation efficiency
and cost. Sterilisation of biofertilizer carriers by
gamma irradiation is an attractive option,
especially in terms of bulk sterilisation in prepacked containers, speed of sterilisation.
Evaluation on cost of irradiation and transportation

to and from the irradiation centre need to beconsidered by the company. To date the Malaysian
Agri Hi-Tech Sdn. Bhd., a microbial-productbased company has sent vermiculite medium andproduct containers for gamma irradiation at the
Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia)
MINTec-SINAGAMA Irradiation Plant, as part ofthe production process. There is good potential thatthe practice is adopted by other biofertilizer
companies in the near future.
It is only realistic that the products and technology
developed at the universities and research
institutions be transferred to companies andadapted for commercialisation purposes. Efforts
have been made for this purpose so that potentiallygood products could be marketed more efficiently.
Currently, several plantation industries are also
receptive to the establishment of their own
biofertilizer or bioorganic fertilizer plants at site.
With these new developments there is an urgent
need for quality standards to be established forbiofertilizer, bioorganic fertilizer, in addition toorganic and chemical fertilizers. The recent
inclusion for biofertilizer, to be discussed in thestandards and technical committee for fertilizers,
shows that we are in the right direction.

Bioorganic fertilizer produced by Nuclear Malaysia

Highlights of Biofertilizer Project12

原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:37 ページ 13

Current Biofertilizer
Biofertilizer Research
Research inin thethe Philippines
Philippines
Julieta A. Anarna, University of Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)The National Institute of Molecular Biology andBiotechnology (BIOTECH) formerly known as
the National Institutes of Biotechnology andApplied Microbiology was established by the
University of the Philippines (UP) Board ofRegents as the national center of excellence forresearch in microbiology, genetics, chemistry
and engineering based at University of thePhilippines Los Baños (UPLB).
BIOTECH has achieved its goal in harnessing
new technological development and scientificbreakthroughs in these fields: in the generationof energy from renewable sources, in the further
improvement of crop, livestock and forest
production and utilization, as well as in thepreservation of the environment.
Through the years, BIOTECH has proved to be
worthy of being a national center of excellence.
It has developed cost-effective products making
use of locally available materials, andtechnologies which are environment-friendly.
UPLB through BIOTECH provided its resourcesin the development of alternative fertilizer
technologies that enhance and sustain crop
production. As a result, BIOTECH was able todevelop microbial-based fertilizers that are safe
to use and demonstrated to be giving socioeconomic benefits to intended clients. One ofthese products is Bio N.
The microorganism isolated from the roots oftalahib, formulated and packaged, has now aregistered brand name, Bio N. To make itreadily available to the farmers, Bio N is now
being produced in sixty eight (68) mixing plants
all over the Philippines. This was made possible
with the support of the Department ofAgriculture and other partner agencies.
Bio N complements/supplements the use of
inorganic fertilizers. It replaces at least half ofthe required chemical inputs while increasing theyields. As indicated in Table 1, an amount of
Two Thousand Pesos (PhP 2000.00 or USD
43.38) is saved per hectare per cropping for a
50:50 ratio of urea (46-0-0) and Bio N. This
exemplifies Bio N s contribution to poverty
alleviation.
Users of Bio N all over the country vouch for theefficacy of the microbial fertilizer in increasing
the yield of crops even with reduced inputs ofinorganic fertilizer.

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:37 ページ 15

Current Biofertilizer Research in Thailand
Achara Nuntagij, Department of Agriculture (DOA)

Soil Microbiology Research Group, a section of
The Soil Science Division, Agricultural
Production Science Research and Development
Office, Department of Agriculture, Ministry ofAgriculture
andCooperatives,
takes
responsibilities of research concerning on the
production and utilization of Biofertilizers topromote growth yield and quality of crops andtrees, and also to conserve environment condition
equilibrium. Research and development of thegroup is considerably divided into four kinds ofbiofertilizers such as Rhizobium biofertilizer,
PGPR biofertilizer, Mycorrhiza biofertilizer andPhosphate solubilizing biofertilizer.

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原子力̲p16 2010/03/25 10:38 ページ 16

Biofertilizer researchresearch andand development
development inin Vietnam
VietnamPham Van Toan, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)

Aim: Research, development and application ofmultifunctional biofertilizer to increase crop yieldand quality, save the mineral fertilizers andimprove the soil healths.
Activities:
1. Selection of microorganism having the activity
related to plant nutritions, plant growthpromoting substrate, plant and soil health.

2. Combination of different selected
microorganisms
3. Selection of carrier materials and utilize
including sterilization methods
4. Evaluation of the benefit of microorganism toplant and soil health
5. Production and application of multifunctional
biofertilizer
6. Promoting the expand of biofertilizer use

Laboratory study

Inoculant production

Field testing

Farmers training and field visit

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