Creation of Biofertilizers Using Natural Resources and Agricultural Waste as a Sustainable Farming Method to Increase Crop Yields

Abstract

Biofertilizers are materials derived from natural sources that increase the availability of nutrients in soils or mobilize them to promote plant nutrition. Biofertilizers' composition, affordability, and environmental friendliness are widely recognized. These are effective alternatives to hazardous synthetic chemical fertilizers. Spirulina platensis, chitosan nanoparticles, potato peels, and a combination of these were used to apply the biofertilizer in this study. Potato peels are regarded as agricultural waste since they are high in proteins and carbohydrates, which soil bacteria can subsequently break down into nitrogen. Natural biopolymers called chitosan nanoparticles are made from the chitins of crustaceans. It is biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic. When applied to plants in low quantities, nano-chitosan can enhance water transport, plant development, and yield. Spirulina platensis is a filamentous cyanobacterium (natural microorganism) that has been utilized extensively as a food supplement because of its high protein content and nutritional value. In broad beans and maize treated with various biofertilizers, morphological parameters, chlorophyll index, and protein content are assessed in comparison to the control (soil devoid of fertilizers). Moreover, RAPD-PCR analysis is used to identify molecular variation. Treatments with biofertilizers demonstrated a minor change at the molecular level but a large rise in morphological and physiological parameters, particularly the protein content (an increase of around 25%). As a result, it is strongly advised to use a combination of these natural, safe, and nutritional biofertilizers on various crops. Therefore, in order to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture, the use of chemical fertilizers will be reduced and substituted with safe biofertilizers.