Encapsulating bio inputs for crops has several advantages

The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has made a significant breakthrough in bio-fertilizer production by successfully encapsulating plant growth nutrients.

“The encapsulation process is simple, does not require sophisticated equipment and comes at a low investment” says Dr. M. Anandaraj, Director, who also happens to be the inventor of this benign and simple technology.

In present-day agriculture, bio-fertilizers are of great economic importance because they partially replace chemical inputs and play a vital role in enhancing soil and environmental quality.

Plenty in market

Different formulations of bio-fertilizers like liquid, peat, granules, and freeze-dried powders are available in plenty in the market and their success depends on the crop, environment, ease-of- use, cost and availability.

But a perfect bio-fertilizer formulation does not exist till date and each type has its own limitations.

Nevertheless, a promising advancement has been the development of this capsule technique that allows encapsulating the required nutrition in a capsule and delivering them to the crops, according to Dr. Anandaraj.

While such methods have been fairly successful inside laboratories, practical attempts to implement the same in the fields have been largely unsuccessful. Presently no such commercial products are available in the market. “Termed as bio-capsule, the other advantages of this technology include reduced cost and easy handling and transport, no harmful by-products, less requirement of inorganic and inert material, storage at normal temperature and more importantly, enhanced shelf life (18-24 months)”says Dr. Anandaraj.

Less requirement

Besides, the number of capsules required will be markedly less compared to other bio formulations.

For instance, the normal requirement of any other bio-fertilizer for ginger crop is 20 kg for a hectare.

It can be replaced with just 200 capsules weighing 200gm (each capsule weight being 1.0gm), a marked decrease of 100 times by volume.

The main components in the capsule are the essential nutrients packed in a hard gelatin capsule (like the ones we get in medical stores). The whole process of encapsulation can be done at room temperature.

No special equipment

Apparently, this means one does not need any sophisticated equipment or special conditions. This is significant because the investment cost to manufacture these capsules is low. The encapsulation technique appears to be significant because it can be used to deliver all kinds agriculturally important microorganisms like nitrogen fixers, nutrient solubilizers/ rhizobacteria, trichoderma, etc to any crop, whatsoever.

Field testing

“The technology has been successfully tested in farmers’ fields and patent for this delivery process has been filed for,” he explains. On how it should be used he says: At the time of application, the required capsules should be mixed in water and the seed/ planting materials are soaked in the solution for 30 minutes before sowing. The remaining liquid can then be drenched in the field or pots. “We field tested it for two years in ginger and its performance was way ahead of talc-based formulation and at par or sometimes even better than chemicals like Metalaxyl-mancozeb which is commonly used in reducing soft rot disease and enhancing growth” he adds.

Yet to be licensed

Since it has not yet been licensed to prospective entrepreneurs, the bio-capsule is being given to farmers for testing through the Agricultural Technology Information Center (ATIC) of the institute.

Further details can be obtained from Dr M. Anandaraj, Director, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, phone: Phone0495-2730294, email: anandaraj@spices.res.in, and Business Planning and Development Unit , email:bpd.iisr@gmail.com    http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/encapsulating-bio-inputs-for-crops-has-several-advantages/article6591268.ece