Azotobacter biofertilizers use a biological process called biological nitrogen fixation to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as Azotobacter may change atmospheric nitrogen (N2) gas into a type of nitrogen that plants can use. Azoltobacter biofertilizers fix atmospheric nitrogen in the following ways:
Azotobacter bacteria can perform their metabolic functions in the presence of oxygen since they are aerobic bacteria.
Azotobacter bacteria can be found in the rhizosphere, or the area of soil that surrounds plant roots. Through the discharge of root exudates, which are organic substances by the plant roots, they have the capacity to colonize the root surfaces and the surrounding soil.
Nitrogen fixation is carried out by the nitrogenase enzyme, which is found inside the cells of Azotobacter bacteria. The complicated enzyme system known as nitrogenase aids in the transformation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), a form of nitrogen that plants may use.
Nitrogen fixing: Since oxygen inhibits the nitrogenase enzyme’s activity, nitrogen fixing only takes place in the absence of oxygen. Azotobacters bacteria use a variety of strategies, such as generating protective compounds or maintaining low oxygen levels surrounding the nitrogenase enzyme, to generate an environment that is appropriate for nitrogen fixation.
Plant Nitrogen Uptake: After ammonia is created through nitrogen fixation, plant roots may quickly absorb it and use it for their own growth. Plants give organic molecules to Azotobacter bacteria in exchange for the fixed nitrogen.
