A researcher/academic from Palamuru University has added another feather to its cap by earning three patents from the International Bureau of World Intellectual Property Organisation, Geneva, for his work on bio-fertilisers.
Pavan Kumar Pindi, an associate professor from the university’s microbiology department, has won the patents respectively for the discovery of a bacterium, chryseomicrobium palamuruense, and methods thereof; the methods for preparation and application of host-specific efficient Rhizobium Bioinoculant formulations and products thereof; and for an innovative method employing geo-specific polybioinoculants for sustainable agriculture.
Prof. Kumar’s first patent was for the discovery of the bacterium that aids growth and survival rate in five kinds of agro-forestry species, including cotton cultivars. It has high potential as bio-fertiliser and also as enzyme-producer for industrial applications, as proven by him.
The two other patents were awarded to him for developing processes that isolate crop-specific bacteria which would aid growth of that particular crop, without the use of chemical fertilisers. For this, Prof. Kumar collected soil rich in micro organisms from all the forest regions in the State, and sowed same seed in different soils. After three months, he collected the soil particles from the root system of the plant showing the best growth, and analysed them for the bacteria thereof.
“Further, chemical analysis could isolate the bacteria respectively for Nitrogen fixation, for solublising Phosphate, and for Indole Acitic Acid, a plant growth enzyme. A combination was prepared of all these bacteria and together with the fungus Mycorrhizae, which enhances tenfold the nutrient and moisture absorption through root system, a liquid bio-fertiliser was prepared,” Prof. Kumar explained.
The same process may be adapted to develop bio-fertiliser for any plant, simply by changing the seed.
The third patent was awarded for similar process, but to identify the Rhizobia from the root nodules of leguminous plants.
“The third process is very simple, and can be carried out by a farmer. All he/she has to do is to adopt the same procedure of collecting soil from forests, and growing the plants in different pots. Once the plant with best growth is identified, the nodules can be collected from its root system, crushed and mixed in water, and sprayed in the soil,” Prof. Kumar said.
While the last patent was not meant for commercialisation, he has already got offers from a few bio-fertiliser companies for the first two, he said.
“Bacteria naturally available in soil are killed due to use of chemical pesticides. My processes may be used in organic farming to rejuvenate soil through natural means,” he said.
