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Comparative Performance of Three Carrier Based Blue Green Algal Biofertilizers for Sustainable Rice Cultivation

ABSTRACT Nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria or blue green algae are ecologically significant inputs in rice cultivation in the tropics. Field experiments were conducted to compare the efficiency of two newly developed carrier based blue green algal (BGA) biofertilizers (wheat straw and multani mitti), with the traditional soil based BGA biofertilizer, on the grain yield of rice for a period of three years. Treatments included five levels of nitrogenous fertilizer urea and their interaction with the three types of BGA biofertilizers, on the grain yield of rice variety ‘PNR 381’. Highest grain yields were obtained with the application of multani mitti based biofertilizer along with 90 kg N/ha, although maximum percent increase in yield over control (37.97%), when applied along with 60 kg N/ha. The straw based and soil based biofertilizer treatments showed highest yields when supplemented with 90 and 120 kg N/ha, respectively. This investigation clearly emphasizes the need for supplementing chemical fertilizers with the newly developed BGA biofertilizers in rice cultivation for maximizing crop productivity, reducing inputs of chemical fertilizers and sustaining soil fertility.