ABSTRACT

Title: Media optimization towards production of

biofertilizers via fermentation
Biofertilizers are low cost, renewable sources of plant nutrients
which supplement chemical fertilizers. A biofertilizer can be defned a
substance which contains living microorganisms which, when applied
to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior
of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or
availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. Bio-fertilizers add
nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fxation,
solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the
synthesis of growth-promoting substances. Bio-fertilizers can be
expected to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Since
they play several roles, a preferred scientifc term for such benefcial
bacteria is plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria !"#"$%.
"hosphorus is the most important element next to nitrogen in the
nutrition of plants. Bacterial species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas have
demonstrated phosphate solubilizing activity, which is very critical in
utilizing the phosphorus in the soil. &xcessive use of chemical fertilizers
and pesticides has either reduced or eliminated such essential
microbial populations from the agriculture soils. 't has thus become
necessary to produce such biofertilizers in commercial scale and add to
the soil. (arge scale production of these micro-organisms can be
accomplished in reactors using either complex or semi defned or
completely defned media via fermentation processes. )he *ey element
to the commercial success of biofertilizers is optimal production
applying bioprocess principles. +edia optimization is the main and the
most critical aspect of the commercial production of biofertilizers.
,or this pro-ect around fve di.erent types of media for the
growth of Bacillus megaterium species are formulated, utilizing natural
sources such as molasses to the possible extent. /ptimization factors
such as microbial growth characteristics, cost of the media
components, and process time will be compared to arrive at the
optimum media for the fermentation of the bacillus species at
commercial scale. A scale up fermentation in 01 ( reactor with wor*ing
volume of 02 ( will be carried out to estimate the growth
characteristics and process time. )he advantages of the optimized
media formulation compared to traditional media will be discussed.