Nodules Research
Name of the Project :
Survey, Selection and Mass Production of Nodule Bacteria as Legume Inoculants for the Improvement of Pulse Cultivation in West Bengal
Starting date : 1974.
Name of the PI and other members of the project, total staff, designation :
Name | Disciplines | |
---|---|---|
Officer-in-charge | Dr. Sanchita Mondal | Agronomy |
Teachers | Prof. Subhas Chandra Kole, Professor | Agril. Chem & Soil Sci. |
Prof. Abhijit Debnath, Professor | Agril. Chem & Soil Sci. | |
Dr. Dibyendu Sarker, Assistant Professor | Agril. Chem & Soil Sci. | |
Dr. Kaushik Batabyal, Assistant Professor | Agril. Chem & Soil Sci. | |
Mr. Arup Sen, Assistant Professor | Agril. Chem & Soil Sci. | |
Dr. Sunita Mahapatra, Assistant Professor | Plant Pathology | |
Mr. Sahar Murmu, Assistant Professor | Plant Pathology | |
Dr. Debasish Soren, Assistant Professor | Genetics & Plant Breeding | |
Dr. Sanchita Mondal, Assistant Professor | Agronomy | |
Name | Designation | |
Staffs | ||
Sr. Arup Mukherjee | Jr. Store Keeper | |
Smt.Nirasha Basfore | Field Worker (Sweeper) |
Funding Agency : State Government.
Objectives of the project :
- To augment the State’s pulse yield through effective uses of “legume inoculants” in pulse cultivation.
- To control the fuel subsidized agricultural practices by enriching the soil with organic nitrogen contributed by the nodules.
- Semi-commercial production of pulse inoculants through a pilot plant project for distribution among the pulse growers and /or researchers of different institutes.
Achievement :
- Developed a bank of Rhizobium sp. for crops like lentil, green gram, groundnut, khesari and other pulses, different strains of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potash mobilizers.
- The unit has developed Pilot plant for mass scale production of biofertilizers.
- A RKVY project has been granted for upgrading to large scale production of both carrier-based solid and liquid formulation, developing cold storage facility and storage of freshly collected efficient strains.
Salient Achievements:
- Survey, isolation & efficiency testing of native strains of Rhizobium Azotobacter, Azospirillum and P-solubilising bacteria (PSB), Rhizobacteria, biocontrol agents like Trichoderma through laboratory and field experiments.
- Regularly produce quality biofertilizers of Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB.
- Occasionally provides training to farmers, self-help groups, DAESI trainees etc. mediated by the KVKs, extension wing of the University and the Government for generating awareness on the usefulness of biofertilizers and the protocol of its use.
- An Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) on ‘Biofertilizer Production and Marketing for undergraduate students is running from 2022 in this unit.
- Internship on "Biofertilizer Production & Use" and "Trichoderma: Its isolation, efficacy, growth promotion and mass production" is provided for one to 6 months.