This course will enable students to understand microbial roles in agriculture and ecosystems, explore biodegradation, bioremediation, and symbiosis, analyze microbial interactions with plants and soil and apply knowledge to enhance agricultural and environmental sustainability.
Microbial population of air, water and soil. Population interaction: Neutralism, Commensalism, Synergism, Mutualism, Competition, Ammensalism, Parasitism, and Predation. Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Sulphur Cycle, Phosphorus Cycle, Iron cycle
Liquid waste: Sources & testing. Stages of Liquid waste treatment. Aerobic process – activated sludge, oxidation ditches, and trickling filters. Anaerobic Process – anaerobic digestion, anaerobic filters, up flow anaerobic sludge. Solid Wastes: Sources and management (Sanitary landfills, incineration, composting, vermi-culture, methane production).
Biodegradation of Xenobiotics. Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification. Bioremediation: Ex situ and In situ approach. Bioleaching of metals, Microbial enhanced oil recovery.
Plant growth promoting bacteria, biofertilizers – symbiotic (Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Frankia), Non Symbiotic (Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Mycorrhizae, MHBs, Phosphate solubilizers, algae), Novel combination of microbes as biofertilizers.
Mode of entry of pathogens, Transmission modes, Symptoms of plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Plant diseases - groundnut rust, Citrus canker and tomato leaf curl. Principles of plant disease control. Biocontrol mechanisms and ways, Microorganisms used as biocontrol agents against Microbial pathogens, Insects, Weeds.
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