Product Background
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode has successfully developed, field-tested and commercialized encapsulation technology (biocapsules) for smart delivery of agriculturally important microorganisms. The technology involves encapsulation of the microorganisms of interest in a gelatin capsule for delivery to agricultural crops for enhanced soil nutrient solubilization, enhanced growth and yield.
Description
The main components of the technology are the microbial strain, protecting agent, buffering agent, essential nutrients and a bulking agent packed in a hard gelatine capsule. The formulation involves culturing of PGPR, pelleting the cells at appropriate growth phase, treating with buffering agent, followed by mixing with protecting agent, inert bulking agent and nutrients. The mixture with a PGPR population of 1010 CFU/g is then packed in the capsule. The whole process is done at a temperature range between 20-30?C. The total weight of the biocapsule is just 1g. The process of making the formulation is simple and does not require any sophisticated equipment and conditions except basic facilities. The capsule formulation contains PGPR in an immobilized/inactive condition and the cells can be activated by dissolving the capsule in water. This suspension can be diluted and the seeds or seedlings or rhizomes are soaked in the suspension for 30 minutes before sowing/ transplanting into the main field. The remaining suspension can be used as soil drench
The industry/customer problem
The role played by beneficial micro-organisms is very critical in agriculture and they play a vital role in maintaining soil quality, besides enhancing environmental quality. The technical exactness required, time consuming and cumbersome procedures in their method of use are factors which has made the use of beneficial micro-organisms unattractive. There are also concerns about the quality of the commercial formulations available in the market such shelf life, cost of production, ecofriendliness etc. The major attraction for biocapsules are
Latest product information
Biocapsules available in market
Trichocap and Powercap, the two branded products of Trichoderma harzianum MTCC 5179 and PGPR marketed by our licensee M/s Codagu Agritech, Kushalnagar, Codagu, Karnataka
Commercially available capsules of SRT Agro Science Pvt Ltd, Chhattisgarh containing beneficial microorganisms for vegetables and all agri/horti crops
Commercialization Status
Technology commercialized to three companies through non – exclusive licensing
Agrinnovate India Limited
G-2, A Block, NASC Complex,
DPS Marg, New Delhi-110012, INDIA
Phone:+91-011-25842122
Fax:+91-011-25842124
Email: infio@aarinnovate.co.in