what is the importance of Rhizobium bacteria for the farmer
Answers
Explanation:
Plants absorb mineral nutrients from the soil. So, their amounts in the soil keep on declining. Fertilisers and manures contain plant nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium,phosphorous, etc. These nutrients need to be added from time to time to enrich the soil. We can grow plants and keep them healthy if we can fulfil the nutrient requirement of plants. Usually crops require a lot of nitrogen to make proteins. After the harvest, the soil becomes deficient in nitrogen. You learnt that though nitrogen gas is available in plenty in the air, plants cannot use it in the manner they can use carbon dioxide. They need nitrogen in a soluble form. The bacterium called Rhizobium can take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a soluble form. But Rhizobium cannot make its own food. So it lives in the roots of gram, peas, moong, beans and other legumes and provides them with nitrogen. Most of the pulses (dals) are obtained from leguminous plants. In return, the plants provide food and shelter to the bacteria. They, thus, havea symbiotic relationship. This association is of great significance for the farmers. They do not need to add nitrogen fertiliser to the soil in which leguminous plants are grown. Most of the pulses (dals) are obtained from leguminous plants.