Studies on the Azotobacter Inoculation of Crop Plants

Rhizosphere and rhizosplane population build-up of Azotobacter in inoculated rice, chilli and ragi was estimated. Maximum respone to Azotobacter inoculation was seen with chilli crop followed by regi and rice. The population build-up due to inoculation was maximum at the vegetative stage of growth in all the three crops. The yield in. crease due to inoculation ranged from 12-39 per cent and was comparable to the yields with application of recommended doses of nitrogen fertilizer.