Soil Bacteriology Section, Faisalabad
Soil Bacteriology Lab is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified/accredited lab, functioning as Biofertilizer/Bio-stimulants testing lab for quality control under PFCA, 2025 and performing as regulatory lab for the newly introduced products for registration. This lab is also engaged in Research Work on beneficial microbes, their isolation, characterization and identification of microbes used for crop production.
Regulatory Laboratory
Soil Bacteriology Lab is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab and analyzes biofertilizer/bio-stimulants samples for quality control under PFCA, 2025 and for registration of new products
Vision
Assessing and monitoring the environmental impact of biofertilizers use in agriculture and providing quality biofertilizers to farmers. To execute research to increase crop yields per unit area through biofertilizers with judicious use of mineral fertilizers. Improvement of biofertilizer/biostimulant quality control analytical services in Punjab. Monitoring of soil environment and microbial population relationships with agro-chemicals. Strengthening of biofertilizer/biostimulant assessment services to stakeholders under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation of laboratory.
Mission
The mission of the Soil Bacteriology Section is to provide accurate, precise and timely results with aim of making availability of quality biofertilizers / bio-stimulants to farmers ultimately target to minimize the use of fake/ spurious/ adulterated in the Punjab. The section is mandated to conduct research on different aspects of soil microbiology, restoration of soil fertility by biological means, plant nutrition, beneficial soil microbial population, use of symbiotic and free-living microbes in agriculture, microbial relationships to increase crop yields, use of PGRs and their precursors with microbial inoculants to increase crop yields, use of solubilizers to solubilize the insoluble sources, integrated plant nutrient management, soil environment and microbial activities, quality control of biofertilizers / bio-stimulants in ISO/IEC 17025:2017 environment for registration under PFCA, 2025. Biofertilizer Testing Laboratory is committed to provide quality analysis of biofertilizer/biostimulant samples to its customers with integrity, reliability, accuracy, precision and timeliness of reports to achieve customers’ satisfaction.
Brief History of the Section
Soil Bacteriology Section was established as an independent section in January, 1975. Previously the work of Soil Bacteriology was carried out under the Soil Chemistry Section, came into existence with the establishment of Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute Lyallpur in 1907. Later on, Soil Bacteriology Section comes under the control of the Directorate of Agri. Biotechnology Research Institute, Faisalabad in 2009. Soil Bacteriology Laboratory declared as “Biofertilizer Testing Lab, Govt. of the Punjab” in 2012 for quality control and PFCA, 2025 and for registration.
Objectives
Soil Bacteriology Section has following objectives
- To conduct research on symbiotic N2 Fixation, isolation and selection of efficient strains of bacteria (Rhizobium sp)
- To study PGPR-crop (plant-microbe) associations in non-legumes
- To work on phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) studies
- To investigate integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) system
- To study soil environment and microbial activity relationship
- To work on enrichment of rhizosphere with desired microorganisms
- To study development of crop specific microbial inoculants
- Dissemination of technology through mass media to farmers
Research Activities
- Soil Bacteriology Lab functioning as Biofertilizer Testing Lab, Govt. Of Punjab.
- Maintenance of Accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
- Isolation, purification and Maintenance of PGPR. PSM and Rhizobium species.
- Comparative effect of microbial and biostimulant enriched compost on growth, yield and nutrient contents of tomato and broccoli
- Comparative potential 0f different commercial biostimulants and microbially derived biostimulants on growth and yield of cereals
- Combined effect of rhizobacteria with bioactive sulphur on canola and soybean growth and yield
- Evaluation of biocontrol agents for the management of chickpea and mung bean wilt caused by fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris and tracheiphilum
- Interactive effects of growth hormones and bacillus megaterium on soil microbial activity and growth performance of maize and wheat crops.
- Evaluation of effectiveness of bio-control agents against onion thrips under lab conditions
- Role of PGPR as biocontrol agents in controlling disease (wilt / root rot) complex caused by fusarium sp and nematode
- To study the role of beneficial microbes to control potato scab disease under alkaline calcareous soils of the Punjab
- Rice straw management by substrate stimulated microbial consortium to improve the soil and environmental health
- Plant microbe interaction for the growth and yield of sorghum and oat fodder.
- Effect of some rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria for the growth and yield of cauliflower
- Effect of different auxin precursors with PGPR inoculation for the growth promotion of wheat and maize
Achievements
- More than 150 experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of soil beneficial microbes for enhancing crop growth and yields.
- Perform as a regulatory lab for biofertilizer/bio-stimulant samples for testing under PFCA, 2025, about 1000 biofertilizer / bio-stimulant samples have been analyzed during last five years.
- Microbial inoculum packets (70924) of Rhizobium, PGPR and P-Solubilizers were supplied to the farmers in the last five years for better crop production and yield maximization.
- Achieved the accreditation ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Lab No. 202 and successfully participated in the Proficiency Testing (PT) of three parameters and ILC and acquired satisfactory Z score for ISO requirements.
- To assess the burning effect on soil microflora, successfully achieved the assignment of completion of 3500 burnt vs unburnt soil samples for microbial count and total organic carbon.
- 800 isolates were isolated/purified/screened and preserved and 05 isolates have got identified/sequenced by International Organization (Macrogen, South Korea).
- Dissemination of research findings through Paper Publications (30), radio talks (>25) and symposia/conferences (50) during the last five years.
Contact Us
Principal Scientist
E-mail: sbaaarifsd@gmail.com
Phone: 041-9201807
Mobile: 0300-7631001