NEW TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS IN NITROGEN FIXATION INOCULANTS

WHAT IS BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION

BNF is a process in which certain microorganisms (such as rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants are able to absorb and utilize for growth. In turn the plants provide the microorganisms with a sheltered environment to live and access to carbon and nutrients. This mutualistic relationship between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and plants plays a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and promotes better plant growth and productivity.

Recognition and Signal Exchange is the first step of nodulation formation. The plant roots secrete compounds called flavonoids which trigger the rhizobia in the soil to produce Nod factors. The Nod factors attract rhizobia towards the root which then attach to the root hairs. This binding causes an influx of calcium and the root hair begins to curl around the rhizobia which induces the formation of infection threads. These threads grow through the root hair cells and into the root cortex. As the infection threads advance, the rhizobia multiply and spread within the root cortex. This triggers the plant to form specialized structures called nodules. Inside the nodules, the rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through nitrogen fixation. This ammonia is then used by the plant to produce amino acids and other nitrogen-containing compounds essential for growth.