Evaluation of some agricultural wastes as carriers for bacterial inoculants

Steam-treated bagasse, alone or with maize cob and paddy straw, untreated bagasse and mahua cake, and paddy straw compost (PSC), were evaluated, after pH adjustment with charcoal or charcoal and lime, as carriers for Azospirilum brasilense and Azotobacter chroococcum in terms of bacterial survival. Three of the materials supported a good population of both bacteria, but A. chroocuccum did not survive on PSC. All materials had good water-holding capacity, porosity and bulk density.