Comparative Study of Vermicast and CharcoalUsed as a Carrier Inoculums to theBiofertilizer Preparation

Abstract

The high cost of fertilizer production and environmental pollution caused by the use of these fertilizers makes necessary to use other sources especially biofertilizers. The biomass of the bacterium Azotobacter can be used as a biofertilizer due to its ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. The purpose of this research was to study the survival of bacteria Azotobacter on different carrier such as vermicast and charcoal. The physical and chemical parameters of the carriers were analyzed to determine the effect of carrier in the survival of bacteria. Bacterial population inoculated in carriers were measured at times 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days by colony forming unit. The
results of bacterial count after 15 days incubation showed that bacterial population in vermicast was increased and decreased in the charcoal. Considering these results, the use of vermicast as carrier could increase the survival of bacteria.