Presented in this well-illustrated book is an up-to-date account of the fundamental as well as applied aspects of research into biofertiliers which have large-scale application as supplements to chemical fertilizers in modern-day crop cultivation and forestry pratices.
Biofertilizers can be more appropriately called `microbial inoculants` and it is now accepted that microbial processes are not only quicker but also consume relatively less energy than microbial processes. These processes have the advantage of being diversified into small units to meet the demands of location-specific problems related to the agriculltural and silvicultural practices of nations which have not yet adopted agricultural mechanisation.
NS Subba Rao has a very distinguished background in the field of research on biofertilizers. In this book he has not only critically evaluated the work in progress on biofertilizers in different countries but has also indicated the outlook for future. For his outstanding contributions towards research in soil microbiology, he was awarded the PB Sarkar Endowment prize of the ICAR (1977-80). He is well known in the area of biological nitrogen fixation through his books and papers and is the recipient of the Norman Borlaug Award in Agriculture. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and worked as INSA Senior Scientist at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.He has authored Soil Microorganisms and Plant Growth and edited Recent Advances in Agricultural Microbiology; Recent Advances in Biological Nitrogen Fixation; Current Developments in Biological Nitrogen Fixation; and Biological Nitrogen Fixation-Recent Developments. He has served as distinguished visiting professor in universities in Europe, Canada and the United States.
