Advances in biofertilizer research and development in China

The study and application of biofertilizers started in 1950s in China. The very early biofertilizer researches were mainly focused on N-fixation bacteria, P-solubilizing bacteria and K-decomposing bacteria, with the purpose of providing more nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium. After 60 years’ development, biofertilizer has grown to a enormous industry in China, possessing more than 1000 manufacturing enterprises and containing 11 kinds of products, of which multi-functional strains account for a large proportion. In this paper, the scientific research, agricultural application and industrial development of biofertilizer in the recent 10 years of China were reviewed from the following four aspects, that will be useful for reference of biofertilizer research and development in near future. 1) Briefly introducing the isolation, inoculum effects and main problems existed in rhizobium, associative N-fixation, P-solubilizing, K-decomposing, and plant growth promoting microbes; 2) Reviewing the application efficacy of inoculant, bioorganic fertilizer and compound biofertilizer; 3) Analyzing the development obstacles and market scale of biofertilizer industry; 4) Outlooking some development trends of biofertilizers.