Utilization of Azotobacter as bio-fertilizer to support sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Biofertilizers are microbes or the result of microbial activities that can directly or indirectly increase plant production by increasing the amount and availability of nutrients, accelerating the decomposition process of organic matter, inhibiting the development of nuisance organisms, producing compounds that can accelerate and increase plant growth. , and break down toxic materials in the soil. Azotobacter is an example of a microbe classified in biological fertilizers which is well-known as an airborne N2-fixing microbe. Azotobacter is a gram-negative bacterium that can fix N2 freely (non-symbiotically) with an average fixation equivalent of 20 kg N/ha/year. Azotobacter's ability to fix N2 can come from the nitrogenase enzyme produced by these bacteria, but this enzyme is very sensitive to the presence of oxygen. Azotobacter is a bacterium that is commonly found in soil, water, and sediments. The use of Azotobacter as a biological fertilizer is one solution to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, reduce the cost of chemical fertilization, and reduce environmental pollution caused by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This paper aims to identify and provide information about the role and use of Azotobacter as a biological fertilizer to support sustainable agriculture. In addition, this paper also contains information on the development of Azotobacter biofertilizers which have been commercialized in several countries, including India, China, and Indonesia. Keywords: Bacteria, biofertilizer, environmental, enzyme, microbes.