Teri Tech To Cut Chemicals In Fertilisers

Tata Energy Research Institute (Teri) claims to have developed a magic eco-friendly bio-technology the application fo which would reduce the use of chemicals in fertilisers and yet would increase the crop yield manifold.

The technology would be formally launched by the union science and technology minister Murli Manohar Joshi today.

The technology based on the use of a certain mycorrhizal fungus, says Teri, has been successfully demonstrated in reclaiming the toxic hazardous waste flyash at Badarpur in Delhi and at Korba in Madhya Pradesh. Teri says it is now proved that the technology can green arid lands besides having other applications.

 

Mycorrhiza is a name given to interaction of a fungus with the plant root to catalyse increased nutrient availability to the plant. As a Teri spokesperson explained, the mycorrhiza technology is production of this fungus under special conditions on a large scale and then applying it for raising the yield on farm lands.

Since the use of inorganic fertilisers cause damage to the ecosystem besides polluting the groundwater, the new technology would lead to reduced use of chemicals and yet would increase the plant yield, the spokesperson said.

Teri has already transferred the technology to Cadila Phrmaceuticals Ltd for its wider use by the farmers.