Use of Azotobacter as Biofertilizer in Wheat

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in Nepal. And Nitrogen (N) is a major macronutrient that often limits the growth and yield of wheat crop. High input of chemical fertilizer is required to obtain higher yield of modern wheat cultivar which not only results in higher production cost but also impose a greater negative impact on environment On contrast to the chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers on the other hand are safer, cheaper as well as ecofriendly. Azotobacter-one of the free living nitrogen fixing bacteria naturally supply nitrogen in a cost effective way that significantly contribute in better yields. Azotobacter alone or in combination with other inorganic and organic fertilizers can be used to get improved wheat yield. Biofertilizer is a term unknown to many farmers in Nepal. They apply urea as a sole source of nitrogen in the most haphazard way. This research work thus aims to study the effect of Azotobacter inoculation alone or in combination with NPK and FYM on wheat growth and yield.