Application of gamma irradiation for sterilization of biofertilizer carriers

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Posted by: nantha, on 9/22/2007, in category "Tari Hi-Tech Horticulture Farm (Organic certified)"
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Location: Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: Biofertilizer primarily contains microbial inoculants usually proliferated in a nutrient source medium called as carriers.

In the production of biofertilizers, carriers undergo a process of sterilization to create a favorable environment for the growth of desired inoculants free from antagonistic microbes. Conventional method of sterilization of carriers for biofertilizers is done through the use heat-autoclave.

This sterilization process poses some disadvantages such as incomplete sterilization, may result to some changes in physical and chemical properties of carriers, costly and suitable only to small scale treatments. Alternative means of sterilization process has been found in the utilization of the killing effect of gamma rays to microorganism.

The application of gamma irradiation for sterilization of biofertilizer carrier however is still in its experimental stage. Bio-N for instance, whose carrier is compose of soil and charcoal, gamma irradiation showed decrease of microbial load at increasing dose and is sterilized at the dose 30kGy.

Different biofertilizers however have different carriers so further experimentation is needed and sufficient data should be acquired especially on the advantages of the gamma irradiation compared to conventional methods to convince the biofertilizer producers to adopt the application of gamma irradiation for sterilization of biofertilizer carriers.