Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) Biofertilizer Project

Issue No. 14
Mar c h , 2 0 1 6

Overview of FNCA Biofertilizer Project 2015
Shotaro Ando, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)
In order to promote environmental friendly sustainableagriculture in Asia, FNCA Biofertilizer Project aims todevelop biofertilizers with radiation sterilization
technology, using benefical microorgamisms, which
increase the yields of crops while reducing theenvironmental burden of excessive use of chemicalfertilizers.
At the first phase of this project from 2001 to 2006,
FNCA Biofertilize Manual was published, which gives
information and experiences of biofertilizer use in
Asian countries, including their effectiveness, efficient
production processes, storage and application on different
crops, as an important outcome.
At the second phase from 2007 to 2011, main
objectives were 1) developing multifunctional
biofertilizer having different two functions such as
plant growth promoting and resistance against plant
pathogens, and 2) dissemination of radiation
sterilization method of carrier using 60Co to improve
quality of carrier for biofertilizers.
At the third phase from 2012 to 2014, above 2
objectives was enhanced and started a research focusedon synergy effect between biofertilizer and irradiatedoligochitosan as a new theme. Also “FNCA Guideline
for Biofertilizer Quality Assurance and Control, Vol. 1
Quantification of beneficial microbes in biofertilizer”

was published on the FNCA website in March 2014.
This guideline can be a reference for the governmental
or quasi-governmental organization which conducts thequality check of biofertilizer, and a standard method for
microbial count in biofertilizer when biofertilizer
companies register their products and sell them to the
public market.
From 2015, forth phase was started to compile data ofbeneficial effects on irradiated carrieres and to havepublication on the benefits. Synergy effect between
biofertilizer and irradiated oligochitosan is also
continued.
FNCA 2015 Workshop on Bifertilizer Project was held
on November 24th - 27th in Bangkok, Thailand with 12
participants from 8 countries.
This is the first fiscal year of the forth phase andactivity plan for the three years were reported by eachmember country. For the discussion on activity plan of
this phase, it was agreed that the data of beneficial
effects on irradiation carriers will be accummlated andpublished as articles on survival of beneficial microbesof biofertilizer in some member countries in 2015 and2016. This scientific data will be included on “FNCA
Guideline Vol.2 Production of biofertilizer carrier using
radiation technology” and it will be published on the
FNCA website before the end of this phase.

Technical Visit

Participants of the Workshop

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

Effect of Biofertilizers on crop yield increase in China
Fan Bingquan, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
In 2015, we conducted some activities focusing on
carrier irradiation and development of higheffective biofertilizer for sustainable Agriculture.
1. We conducted experiment to study the effect ofP-solubilizing biofertilizers on maize biomass ingreenhouse. The P41 biofertilizer showed a highest
fresh and dry weight of maize biomass, the freshand dry weight of maize increased by 91.8% and211.8%, than that of control, respectively. The
biofertilizer formulated from strain P250 got a
61.3% and 141.2% increase of maize biomass infresh and dry weight than control, respectively.

The other biofertilizers such as formulation of 13(1),A44 and C2 showed significant increase in biomass
over control.
2. The biofertilizer carried with P-solubilizing fungi
were used to conduct field experiment of sunflower
in Inner Mongolia. All five kind of biofertilizers
showed obvious effects on sunflower seed yields.
Biofertilizer formulated by Aspergillus niger 5
achieved a highest yield averaged 201.3 kg/667m2,
increasing 59.8% than control; biofertilizer from
Aspergillus niger 4-2 got a increase of 27.6% overcontrol.

Table 1 Effect of various biofertilizers on maize biomass
StrainTreatment

Fresh weight(g/pot)Increase%

Dry weight(g/pot)Increase%

Controlno inoculation

5.451

-

0.68

-

20851

inoculation

7.21

18.2

1.01

48.5

P250

inoculation

9.84

61.3

1.64

141.2

13(1)

inoculation

9.33

53.0

1.23

80.9

A44

inoculation

8.72

43.0

1.23

80.9

C2

inoculation

8.31

36.2

1.61

136.8

P41

inoculation

11.70

91.8

2.12

211.8

Table 2 Effect of P-solubilizing fungi on sunflower yield
StrainSeed yield

Yield increase2

2

kg/667m

Increase percent

kg/667m%

CK (no inoculation)

126.0

Aspergillus niger 5

201.3

75.3

59.8

Aspergillus niger 4-2

160.8

34.8

27.6

Penicillium oxalicum YZ1

148.1

22.1

17.6

Aspergillus niger C2

142.5

16.5

13.1

Aspergillus niger Wu5

141.2

15.2

12.0

2

3. A field experiment of tomato treated with 5 kindof biofertilizers in greenhouse was conducted in
Shandong Province. Three kind of biofertilizers got
higher yields than control. The tomato yield of
biofertilizer formulated by strain Y16 averaged
3003.0 kg/667m2 was the highest over other four
biofertilizers. The average yields of tomato treatedwith JQ1 biofertilizer was 2596.2 kg/667m2 andincreased by 35.0% over control; application of J15

biofertilizer achieved a higher yield than control,
the yield enhancement was 24.3%.
4. We conducted peat carrier irradiation sterilizationby using 60Co γ-ray, the irradiated dose are 0, 20,
35, 50, 75, 100, 200 and 300kGy. The effect of
γ-ray irradiation doses on peat sterilization in
indigenous microorganisms was significant
different, the higher γ-ray irradiation dose, thelower number of microorganism in peat.

Table 3 Effect of biofertilizers on tomato yield (the mean of two harvests)
StrainSeed yield

Seed yield

Yield increase2

Increase %kg/plot

kg/667mkg/667m2

Y16

10.2

3003.0

931.8

42.4

JQ1

11.38

3340.7

866.4

35.0

J15

8.8

2596.2

525.0

24.3

JK24

7.7

2271.7

200.5

11.6

JK8

7.5

2208.5

137.3

6.2

CK

7.1

2071.20.0

0.0

Table 4 Effect of irradiation doses on sterilization of peat indigenous microorganisms
60Co γ-ray irradiation

PDYA

Bacteria

Actinomyces

doses (kGy)(×104cfu/g)(×104cfu/g)(×103cfu/g)

20

205.3a400.0 a

0.0 c

35

37.7b

72.7 b

6.3a

50

0.0d

0.0 d

0.0 c

75

1.0c

3.3 c

3.3b

100

3.7c

4.0 c

0.0 c

200

0.0d

0.0 d

0.0 c

300

0.0d

0.0 d

0.0c

3

Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) Biofertilizer Project

Partly Substitution of Chemical Fertilizers with Bio-organic Fertilizer for RiceDr. Iswandi Anas and M.D. Megarani, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Indonesia
Introduction

Results

Conventional rice cultivation in Indonesia are

Results showed that the treatment 100% NPK

characterized by (1) using very high amount ofchemical fertilizers had significant ly more productive

agrochemicals namely chemical NPK fertilizers andtillers numbers and grain yield compared to 50% NPK

pesticides, (2) always using flooding irrigation water,

chemical fertilizers only (Table 1 and 2). This means(3) almost no application of organic fertilizer, andthat 50% NPK fertilizers was not enough to support(4) very intensive cropping system with almost three

good rice growth and higher yield (Figure 1 andtimes growing season a year. Such rice cultivation

Figure 2). On the otherhand, mixed between chemical

have been practiced since earlier seventies. Many

fertilizers

scientists

significantly higher productive tillers compared to

have

been

reported

concerning

soil

with

bio-orgic

fertilizer

produceddegradation, levelling-off of rice yield, more often

100% NPK fertilizer

althoughthere

was nopest and diseases outbreak, in balance use of chemical

statistically

in

yield

betweenandtreatment 100% NPK chemical fertilizers andbio-organic

fertilizers

andenvironmental

difference

grainpollution (Bakrie et al. 2010).

treatment 50% NPK plus Bio-organic Fertilizer.

Recently, System of Rice Intensification (SRI), rice

Numbers of grains per panicle and the number ofcultivation with less inputs (seeds, chemical fertilizers,

grains per hill of rice treated with mixed chemicals

pesticides, water) have been practiced by famersand bio-organic fertilizers was significantly higher

widely (Uphoff, 2007 and Iswandi et al, 2009). Basic

than those treated with 100% NPK chemical fertilizers.

principles of SRI rice cultivation method are (1)This means that 300kg bio-organic fertilizer BIOST

planting a young seedling 8-12 days old, (2) wider

can substituted 50% NPK chemical fertilizers.

planting distance of 25 cm x 25 cm, (3) no flooding

References

irrigation water, soil just moist, (4) preferably

Bakrie MM, Iswandi A, Sugiyanta, Idris K. 2010.

organic fertilizer is used as addition to chemical

Aplikasi Pupuk Anorganik dan Organik Hayati padafertilizers. Experiment was carried out at Muara

Budidaya Padi System of Rice Intensification (SRI).

Ministry of Agriculture Rice Research Station, District

Jurnal Tanah dan Lingkungan 12(2) : 25-32.

Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Treatments were (1)Iswandi A, Widyastuti R, Hutabarat TR, Nareswari D,

100% NPK chemical fertilizers (250kg Urea, 100kg

Hakim IA, Ningtyas A, Agusemati N, Ulfah M, Sari

SP-36 and 100kg KCl per ha, (2) 50% NPK chemical

EN. 2009. Recent Finding from SRI Studies:fertilizers (125kg Urea, 50kg SP-36 and 50kg KCl per

Laboratory of Soil Biology, Institute Pertanian Bogor

ha PLUS 300kg Bio-organic Fertilizer BIOST per ha,(IPB).

and (3) 50% NPK chemical fertilizers (125kg Urea,

htpp://www.slideshare.net/SRI.CORNELL/1059-recen

50kg SP-36 and 50kg KCl per ha. Bio-organic

t-findings-from-sristudies. Ketersediaan [20 Desember

Fertilizer used contain organic fertilizer enriched with

2010].

Azotobacter

Uphoff, N.

sp,

Azospirillum

sp,phosphate2007. Farmer Innovations Improving thesolubilizing fungus and antagonist Trichoderma sp

System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Jurnal Tanah dan

The treatments had four replicates.

Lingkungan. 9(3): 45-46.

4

Figure 1. Rice treated with 100% NPK chemical fertilizers (left) 50% NPK fertilizers plus Bio-organic
fertilizers (middle) and 50% NPK chemical fertilizers (right)

Table 1. Effect of partly substitution of chemicalfertilizers with bio-organic fertilizer on the number of
productive tillers
Plant age (days after transplanting)Treatments
100% NPK
50% NPK+BOF1
50%NPK

28

42

56

70

16.90a24.50b35.05b

27.40b

16.10a33.15c38.45c30.20c8.60b14.05a22.00a17.30aTable 2. Effect of partly substitution of chemical fertilizers
with bio-organic fertilizer on the number of productive

Treatments

Grain Yield (ton/ha)

100% NPK

5.23ab

50% NPK+BOF1

6.35b

50%NPK

4.05a

Figure 2. Rice growth treated with NPK
chemical fertilizers and mixed between
chemical fertilizers with bio-orgnic fertilizers

BOF= Bio-organic fertilizer BIOST at 300 kg per ha

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

Biofertilizer News from Malaysia 2015
Khairuddin Abdul Rahim, Phua Choo Kwai Hoe, Rosnani Abdul Rashid
Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia)
The trend on chemical fertilizer usage in Malaysia
will continue to rise if cultivated areas and theintensity of production continue to increase. However,there is a possibility to minimize rate of increase infertilizer use if technologies such as variable rateapplication and site-specific management of soil
nutrient and water are extensively and rigorously
practiced. The current government subsidies ofagricultural inputs for farmers are mostly for
agrochemicals;
hence
bioproducts,
including
biofertilizers will have to show their consistency ineffectiveness and economic returns before becoming
acceptable in large scale farming systems, such as foroil palm, rubber and rice. Practice of agroforestry,
intercropping, integrated farming systems (animals
and crops) and use of agricultural residues, in addition
to specific niche market pull, would reduce
dependency on chemical fertilizers.

Total N(mg plant-1)
a**
7.0

a**

Research on biofertilizer continues to be strong, withnew interests on fundamental research especially inthe academia. Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Haji Shamsuddin,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Radziah Othman, Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Halimi Mohd Saud, Dr. Tan Kee Zuan and Kuan
Khing Boon, authored scientific papers during theyear. The work included on diazotrophs, plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria and mycorrhiza. Findings
include as below.
Currently, not all biofertilizer formulations in
Malaysia utilise sterilised carriers as host for the
microbial inoculants. Some prefer to use liquid
formulation for ease of use e.g. in padi fields. The
storage time for the products has been reported to be
more than 12 months. The plastic containers or bottles
can be gamma sterilised and the economics isevaluated. Examples of products are Bacto-10 from
PhytoGold Sdn. Bhd, and BioLiquiFert from Nuclear
Malaysia

a**

ab**

6.0

bc***

cd*
cd*

5.0

d*

d*

cd*

cd*

d*

4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
N

1/3N

BR1

DE3

FR1

FR2
FE1 GR2
Treatments

S1R1 S1R2 S1R4 S3R2

Figure 1: Yield
Bacto-10
estimation MR 219-4
BioLiquiFert(t/ha), MADA, Kedah

Effects of PGPR inoculations on Total N uptake ofmaize seedlings. Different letter(s) on the bar indicate(s)significant difference by DMRT; * and ** on the bar
indicates significant difference by Dunnett's testcomparisons with T1 and T2 respectively; p=0.05.
(source: Kuan Khing Boon et al. 2015).

Bacto-10

6

BioLiquiFert

Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) Biofertilizer Project

Biofertilizer Research and Development in 2015
Delgermaa Bongosuren, Institute of Plant and Agricultural Sciences (IPAS)
In Mongolia most soils are low in nitrogen andused efficiency for 25%. Biofertilizer produced byphosphorus and the all chemical fertilizers areusing beneficial microorganisms have a positive

imported. The large-scale crop enterprises groweconomic impact in terms of biofertilizer saving andmainly wheat and potato.

increasing the crop yield. Biofertilizer produced by

At present new varieties of wheat and potatoes areusing beneficial microorganisms have a positive

being used by farmers. The need for generating more

economic impact in terms of nitrogen fertilizer saving

data on the response of biofertilizer to new varieties isand increasing the crop yield. The field trial andvery essential to convince more farmers on thedemonstration showed, that biofertilizer are able to

Rhizobacterialofincrease crop yield from 15- 28.5%, save 20-25% ofbiofertilizer is produced and distributed to farmers inrequired chemical N and P fertilizers. Biofertilizer

this year.

production and application, many technical trainings

The

plant

biofertilizer

growthusage.

promoting

3.5

tons

Rhizobacteria

forbiofertilizer produced for wheat, potatoes and tomato.

farmers,

field

days

and

biofertilizer

communication in mass media like TV, radio.

The result of field test concluded that biofertilizer
Commercialization of Rhizobacterial fertilizer
Yield addition

Total

Yieldsarea/ha/

t/ha

t/ha

%

Selenge province, 2002-2005

1,400

1.27

0.38-0.45

49.4

2

Bulgan province, 2004-2015

8,000

1.62

0.42-0.7

35.2-45.3

3

Darkhan-Uul province, 2003-2005

1,000

0.94

0.21

25,3

4

Uvs province, 2003-2005

2,500

2.54

0.50

30.0

5

Dornod province, 2014-2015

2,000

2.2

0.20-0.50

22.7-35.5№

Provinces1

Figure 2. Field experiment and demonstration on

Figure 1. Agricultural

the benefit of biofertilizer

Exhibits/Conventions/Forum

7

Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) Biofertilizer Project

Summary of Philippines Country Report on Biofertilizer Research and Development in 2015
Julieta A. Anarna and Nelly S. Aggangan, National Institute of Molecular Biology andBiotechnology, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)Introduction

tomato and eggplant. The treatments for tomato
livingwereT1 – Control T2 – Full Chemical Fertilizer, , T4 –microorganisms which, when applied to seed, plant

Bio N, T5 – Bio N + Mykovam and T6 – Bio N +1/2

surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the

RR For eggplant, the treatments were T1 – Control, T2interior of the plant and promotes growth by– Full chemical fertilizer, T3 – Full chemical + Bio N,

increasing the supply or availability of primary

T4 - 1/2 Chemical + Bio N, T5 – Full chemical +nutrients

2003).

Mykovam, T6 – Mykovam + Bio N, T7 - ½ Chemical

Biofertilizers are generally applied to soil, seeds or

fertilizer + Mykovam and T8 - ½ Chemical +seedlings, without or with some carrier medium for

Mykovam + Bio N.

Biofertilizer

to

is

a

the

substance

hostthe microorganisms. Bio

containing

plant

NTM

(Vessey,

is a microbial-based

Results:

fertilizer that contains Azospirillum as its major

The data revealed that plants applied with lesscomponent and soil and charcoal as its carrier while

fertilizer in combination with Bio N and Mykovam

MykovamTM

is a soil based-biofertilizer which

was heavier that those plants with full chemical

contains mycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic

fertilizers (T2). The application of the combination of

association with plants. In this study biofertilizers

Bio N and Mykovam contributed to the yield of thewere integrated to evaluate the effects and compared

test plant. Bio N aside from being a nitrogenthe response of the test plant tomato and eggplant insupplement also promotes root hair development help

biofertilizers inoculation.

plants uptake of NPK and microelements while

Materials and methods:

Mykovam increase water and phosphorous absorption.

In this study two experiments were conducted one for

Figure 1. The experimental site of tomato and eggplant at BIOTECH-demo farm, DS, 2015

Figure 3. Effect of biofertilizer and chemical on the yield

Figure 2. Response of tomato on biofertilizer inoculationof eggplant8Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) Biofertilizer Project
Summary of Vietnam Country Report on
Multifunctional Biofertilizer Research and development in 2015
Pham Van Toan, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
1. Introduction
Like other provinces in costal marine area Vietnam,
Binhdinh province has a large sandy soil area, which
are low in organic matter as well as nutritional
concentration and very dry. To develop thebiofertilizer used for sandy soil, we continue theresearch of effect of multifunctional biofertilizer on
the nutrition uptake and yield of peanut cultivated insandy soil.
2. Material and methods
Biofertilizer for sandy soil contained N-fixer
Bradyrhizobium japonicum, P-solubilizer Bacillus
megaterium, Cilicate solubilizer Paenibacillus
castaneae and polysaccharid producer Lipomyces
starkeyi with the density of more than 108
CFU/gram is used in the study. Green house andfield trial were conducted with folows treatments: 1.
Base fertlizer (100% NPK: 30.60.90), 2. 100% NPK(30.60.90) + Biofertilizer, 3. 90% NPK (30.60.90) +Biofertilizer, 4. 80% NPK (30.60.90) + Biofertilizer .

and 5. 70% NPK (30.60.90) + Biofertilizer. Eachtreatments was innoculated with single strait toevaluate the effect of microbes on the nutrition
uptake of plant. To evaluate the effect ofmultifuntional biofertilizer on yield of peanut andthe economical effect of peanut production, themixculture was to innoculate to all treatments.
3. Results
The green house experiments showed that beneficial
microbes can increase 30% of N, P, K uptake of
peanut. Multifunctional biofertilizer can save 30%
requred mineral NPK in the peanut production(Figure 1).
As results of multi-functional biofertilizer on yieldof peanut in sandy soil of Binhdinh province can be
see that the biofertilizer and reduction of 30% of
required NPK have no change of peanut biomass
and pod yield in the field condition. Biofertilizer
bring benefit for peanut cultivated farmer in the
sandy soil area.

Figure 1. The effects of biofertilizer on the NPK uptake of
peanut cultivated in sandy soil

Figure 2. The effects of biofertilizer on the yield of
peanut cultivated in sandy soil

Figure 3. Green house and field experiments on the benefit of biofertilizer on the peanut production in sandy soil of Binhdinh province

9