Question

Microbes can be used to decrease the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Explain how this can be accomplished.

Answer 1

Biopesticides and bioinsecticides are the living organisms that specifically inhibit the growth of pest and insects e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive bacterium that produces crystal proteins which are potent and highly specific insecticides. Trichoderma harzianum is a bio-fungicide and is used for suppression of various disease-causing fungal pathogens. Biofertilizers are the microorganisms which increase the nutrient availability from soil to plants thereby causing nutrient enrichment, for example, free-living and symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria and Cyanobacteria.