Cost effective pilot scale production of biofertilizer using Rhizobium and Azotobacter

We standardized the protocol for pilot scale production of Rhizobium and Azotobacter biofertilizer technology using region specific and environmental stress compatible strains isolated from various agro climatic regions of Odisha, India. The cost benefit of biofertilizer production through a cottage industry is also presented. With an investment of $5000 as fixed cost, recurring expenses approximately$460 per year, indirect cost towards salary and wages $4800, 24000 packets of biofertilizer can be produced. By selling the biofertilizer$0.5 per pack, the net benefit is $6000 per year. If the production capacity is quadrupled, the profit would be about$30000 per year. This cost benefit calculation showed the possibility of entrepreneurship on microbial biofertilizers through cottage industry in rural areas in India as well as other developing countries.Keywords: Rhizobium, Azotobacter, biofertilizer, agro-climatic region

Detection of a gene for iron containing superoxide dismutase in the terrestrial cyanobacterium Tolypothrix byssoidea

118-120Using oligonucleotide probes deduced from a conserved re-gion of amino acids of SOD (superoxide dismutase) proteins, one SOD gene was detected in the cyanobacterium, Tolypothrix bys-soidea, isolated from the exposed rock surface of Sun temple, Konark. Amplification of specific genes of the genomic DNA and sequencing of the PCR product yielded a sodB gene of 292 bp size. Southern hybridization confirmed the presence of a single sodB gene in T. byssoidea