FNCA (Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia）
Asia）Biofertilizer Project

Issue No.3 July 2003
BIOFERTILIZER MESSAGE
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) work plan in 2004 to 2009 including one objective ofassisting countries in the development of organic agriculture. Also to streng then FAO’S
information base and partnership on issues of importance organic agriculture. One priorities of thework plan is the formulation of integrative approaches to soil and nutrient management within
holistic organic production systems, with particular emphasis on low input farming systems. Sostudies on production and use of biofertilizer will be one effective approach to organic soil
management and sustainable use of biodiversity.

RESEARCH DIGEST
Biofertilizer Research in Thailand has been carried on by many
institutes namely, Department of Agriculture, Kasetsart University,Chaing Mai University,Thailand Institute of Scientific and TechnologicalResearch. Intensive research has been done largely by the Soil
Microbiology Research Group, Division of Soil Science, Department ofAgriculture. The following articles are some of the recent works ofBiofertilizer research in Thailand.

Rhizobium
There was one experiment showed that theundisturbed and highland area having lessrhizobium population than the cultivation
area particularly the area growing leguminous
plant. By growing crop rotation with leguminous
plant will keep steady rhizobium populationin the soil all year.
Selected rhizbium strains could increased green
soybean variety Chieng Mai no 1. The best result
will be obtained by applying N- fertilizer 0–56-38
kgs N-P2O5-K2O/ha., and mixing soybean withrhizobium inoculum then coated with CaCO3.
This will increased more growth and yield ofsoybean significantly from uninoculated plant
and uncoated with CaCO3.
Scientists : Mr. Somsak Koteponges,
Mr. Chirasak Arunsri
Dr. Ashara Nantakij(Soil Microbiology Research Group,
Department of Agriculture)

Nitrogen fixing bacteria
Nitrogen fixing bacteria has been studied theireffectiveness on growth and yield of rice. The
experiment in Thailand showed that compared
to control plant; applied compost, N. fix bacteria ,compost + N-fix bacteria, N-fertilizer, N-fertilizer +N-fix bacteria, compost + N-fertilizer + N-fixbacteria increassed yield of rice 4.2%, 6.3%,10.0%, 16.7%, 17.6% and 23.0% respectively.
So by applying the combination of N-fertilizer,
N-fix bacteria and compost could increased theactivities and quantity of N-fix bacteria:by increasing growth, hay weight, total N in plant
and rice yield which is better than applied only
single facter.

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Besides rice the effect of N-fix bacteria wasEctomycorrhizal work ; many species ofstudied on pineapple. The result showed that

Boletaceae were found in Dipterocarp Forest ofapplied N-fix bacteria increased pineapple growth

Thailand. Most of them were edible. Some canmore than noninoculated. In nature pineapple

grow as ectomycorrhiza of Mango, Water olive,

obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere by the process

and many species of legume plants. Mycelium ofof N-fix bacteria which were found approximately

Bolete can be stimulated by using PDA + 1% of

58 isolates in pineapple in Thailand.

Pumice.

Scientists : Mr. Banharn Tangcham
Mr. Sompong Muanjang(Department of Agriculture)

Orchid mycorrhizae work ; after root crosssectioning and microscopic examination, the results
showed that mycorrhizal fungi were found in theroots of seventeen epiphytic and all terrestrial
orchid species. The fungi isolated from the root

Mycorrhiza
VA Mycorrhizal work; studies the increasing
efficacy usage of mineral fertilizer by VA
mycorrhiza fungi in pineapples showed that by
applying VAM with half rate of mineral fertilizer
increased the yield of pineapple higher thanapplied only full recommended rate of fertilizer.
Other study showed that teak seedlings producedof epiphytic and terrestrial orchids were identified
as Rhizoctonia spp.
Scientists : Dr. Omsub Nopamornbodi,(Department of Agriculture)
Dr. Uthaiwan Sangvanit,
Dr. Poonpilai Suwanalit,
Mr. Deeprom Chaiwongkeit
Dr. Leka Manoch
Ms. Sombun Techapinyawat(Kasetsart University)

by tissue culture technigue were inoculated with
6 species of VAM had higher height, shoot dry

Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms

weight and root dry weight than noninoculated

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and fungi wereseedlings in all species.
By using nuclar technique to measure the amountcollected from soil and root plant 1,322 isolates.
Six selected isolates were tested for theirof P32 in the study of the effect of VAM andeffectiveness on solubilizing phosphate from soil

phosphate fertilizer on phosphorus uptake ofand from rockphosphate (guano phosphate). TheVetiver. (Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash). Four rates

results showed that 3 isoloates of fungi couldof superphosphate 3, 30, 60 and 90 Kg P2O5 /hasolubilized CaHPO4 and rock phosphate to available

were used. Acaulospora scrobiculata significantly

phosphate. So there is a tendency of using theseincreased vetiver height, while the number of tillers

fungi together with rock phosphate to promote plantper plant and the biomass were not affected.

growth.
Scientists : Ms. Bhaowana Likhananon
Ms. Supranee Munmai(Department of Agriculture)

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BIOFERTILIZER FORUM

Potting mix for Mycorrhiza development
The use of heavy soil in nursery containers prevents the development of ectomycorrhizas in many plant
nurseries. By contrast, appropriate potting mixes favour mycorrhizal formation. Availability of substrates
will vary from one region to another, but the following substrates can be used to make excellent potting mixes.
Organic matter :Organic matter is a major component of any potting mix and can include peat,leaf humus, shredded coconut and other agricultural by products. Plant materials
should be well composted to a humus-link material. Some composted plant barks
or litter, when mixed with vermiculite, are conducive to ectomycorrhiza formation.

Vermiculite and perlite : These are bulking agents that keep the potting mix wet and well aerated, andprevent the growing medium from settling and compacting.
Wood product :Sawdust and bark are sometimes substituted for peat. Mycorrhizas may fail to formin sawdust because of phenolic compounds and unfavourable carbon/nitrogen ratios.
Fresh products must be composted before use.

Sand coarse :washed river sand can be used in addition to vermiculite/perlite.

In general, start with a 1:1 mix of peat and/or vermiculite and adjust the ratio depending on the availabilityof local materials. Potting mixes should be pasteurised (steamed at 80°C for 30 minutes or solar pasteurised )to reduce the threat of pathogens and competing organisms that may prevent the development of theinoculated fungus.

Factors affecting N2 fixation and yield of legumes
The following topics should be considered when working with rhizobium:
1. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer
2. Liming
3. Rates of inoculation and inoculation methods
4. Effect of molybdenum
5. Effect of pesticides and herbicides
6. Nodule occuracy by inoculated strain
7. Post inoculation methods
8. Effect of VA mycorrhizal fungi on N2 fixation
9. Effect of N-serve

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WHO’WHO’S WHO IN BIOFERTILIZER : PROFILE OF PROJECT LEADER

Profile of project leader of each country will be described briefly in this column.
This issue will be Thailand, the issue no. 2 was China, Indonesia and Philippines,
the other countries will be described in later ones.
Project leader of Thailand

Dr. Omsub Nopamornbodi
Senior Soil Scientist Expert
Department of Agriculture
Bangkok, 10900
Thailand

Projects (as Chief Scientific Investigator withfunding awarded.)
1. USAID-Collaborative Research Support Program in

Biofertilizer Related Works (Highlights in 2002)- VAM strains from leguminous plants were isolated
approximately 232 strains, These were tested for

Peanut Rhizobia (CRSP)
2. Role of VA Mycorrhizal in the Phosphorus Nutrition

their effectiveness on soybean and acacia growth.

of Economic Leguminous Crops in Thailand.

Effective strains were selected and kept to use as(USAID – PSTC)

inoculum in the future.

3. Maintenance of Soil Fertility and Improvement- The production techniques for producing VAMof Crop Yield in Highland by biofertilizer,inoculum were studied. Corn, pearl mildred,mycorrhizal fungi. (STDB)
4. An Innovative Approach to Maintain Selected
VAM in Cropping System. (USAID-PSTC)
5. On-farm Optimization of Biological Nitrogen
Fixation of Grain Legumes. Comission of theEuropean Communities. (STDB)
6. Development the technology on production andapplication of VA-Mycorrhizal on leguminous plant.
(NSTDA)
7. Conservation of Soil Microorganisms in Thailand.
(Thai Government)
8. Mycorrhiza Production and Application.

sorghum and kudzu can be used as the good hostplant and grow in substrate of potting mix:
clay, sand, and compost.
- Many species of Boletaceae were tested for theirectomycorrhizal forming in mango and fast
growing trees (leguminous plant). It was foundectomycorrhizal forming in the mango andwater olive root. They also increased growth in theglasshouse, their effect in the field will be tested
next.

(Thai Government)

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2003 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project2003 Joint Workshop on FNCA Biofertilizer Projectand JSPS-NRCT/DOST/LIPI/VCC Large Scale Cooperative
Research Program in the Field of Biotechnology, Development ofBiomanure Based on the Symbiotic System
This year, we will hold the joint workshop with JSPSNRCT/DOST/LIPI/VCC Large Scale Cooperative Research Program in the Field ofBiotechnology, Development of Biomanure Based on the Symbiotic System Workshop, forthe sake of effective discussion and exchange of wider perspectives since the scope of bothworkshops are quite relevant. Time and place of the joint workshop are planned to be held
into two separate cities in succession, from October 20 to 22 in Hanoi and from October 23
to 24 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Date: October 20 (Monday) – October 24 (Fri)
Venue: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Meeting Place: Sofitel Plaza Hanoi Hotel (Oct. 20-22, in Hanoi)
Rex Hotel (Oct. 23-24 in Ho Chi Minh City)

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Editor :Omsub Nopamornbodi,
Project Leader of FNCA Biofertilizer Project of Thailand
Department of Agriculture
Paholyothin Rd., Chatujak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Phone : +662-5790574, Fax : +6629405472,
E-mail : omsub@doa.go.th

Secretariat : Mari Miura
Japan atomic industrial forum, inc
Asia cooperation center
Tel:+81-3-5777-0753 Fax:+81-3-5777-0757
E-mail : mmiura@jaif.or.jp

This Biofertilizer Newsletter is issued by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum Inc. (JAIF) under thecontract of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.