Biofilmed Biofertilizer: Promising Technology for Tomorrow

Abstract

In the context of modern agricultural sciences , the technology of biofilmed biofertilizer is comparatively new in the south asian countries though basic research on the biological properties of biofilm is rather old. The unique structure of biofilm enables it to survive in adverse conditions including higher temperature, low moisture and acidic conditions. It has some unique features of development that enables it to include adhering members from adjoining areas to exist together as a socio-biological community. Recent advances in the subject has indicated several communities including fungal members deriving benefit in addition to bacteria from the biofilm community. Within the biofilm, the microbial rates of metabolism is also found to be higher and that helps the members better in their survival. Considering all these basic parameters of biofilms, its use as biofertilizer has been discussed with the examples of recent applications.