AZOTOBACTERIN AS A MICROBIOLOGICAL FERTILIZER FOR IMPROVING SOIL FERTILITY AND CROP YIELD

This article summarizes the scientific, technological, and practical aspects of applying the microbiological fertilizer Azotobacterin, developed on the basis of the free-living soil bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum. It is shown that bacteria of the genus Azotobacter are involved in the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, the synthesis of physiologically active substances, the stimulation of rhizosphere microflora, and the reduction of chemical load on the soil. Laboratory and field studies demonstrated that the application of an activated Azotobacter strain to grain legumes increased crop yield by 8-16% compared with the control, while potato yield under the soil conditions of Central Tajikistan reached 252 centners per hectare (25.2 t/ha). The paper also discusses the technological requirements for the production of the biofertilizer, quality control parameters, and the prospects for its implementation in the agricultural sector of the Republic of Tajikistan.

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