Innovative formulation combines agricultural lime and Trichoderma in a single product.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR), Kozhikode has successfully developed a new granular lime-based Trichoderma formulation. The formulation named ‘Tricholime’, integrates Trichoderma and Lime into a single product, making the application easier for the farmers. Inventors of the technology are Dr. V Srinivasan, Dr. R Praveena Dr. R Dinesh and Dr. S J Eapen.
Controlling soil acidity is crucial for obtaining optimal yields from crops, as excess acidity can affect the availability of essential plant nutrients, adversely impacting crop productivity. Lime has traditionally been employed to counteract soil acidity, but simultaneous application of Lime and beneficial microorganisms like Trichoderma is not generally recommended. Farmers have to wait for a period of two to three weeks before incorporating other beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Trichoderma, being a fungal biocontrol agent, has proven effective in suppressing several soil-borne plant pathogens and serves as a successful biopesticide and biofertilizer in crop production. Recognizing the potential of Trichoderma and the challenges posed by traditional lime applications, the scientists at ICAR-IISR developed ‘Tricholime’ to integrate lime and Trichoderma.
Tricholime can successfully eliminate the need for a time-consuming two-step process. This lime-based formulation neutralizes the soil acidity while promoting plant growth and shields crops from soil-borne pathogens, all in a single application. This formulation also benefits the crop by improving the physical condition of the soil, enhancing secondary nutrient availability and by boosting soil microbial activity.
The significance of this formulation lies in its ability to mitigate soil acidity and supply bio agents concurrently, ensuring optimal plant growth and nutrient uptake. This can also boost the growth of useful microbes in soil. Unlike conventional methods, Tricholime streamlines the application of Trichoderma and lime for their agricultural needs. The institute hopes that the technology behind this product can also be extended to include other beneficial bioagents, opening new possibilities in product development to support sustainable organic farming.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode)
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