Development of high quality carrier materials for field delivery of key microorganisms used as bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides

High quality inoculants used as bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides depend on having high concentrations of the microorganism(s), long shelf-life and a formulation appropriate for field delivery. To maintain the microorganisms in a viable state, commercially available carrier materials are typically based on milled peat, clays, rice, bran, seeds, or other complex organic matrices. To manufacture a high quality microbial product, it is essential that the carrier material is pre-packaged and pre-sterilised. This allows for non-competitive multiplication and maintenance of the microorganisms in a nutrient rich environment. This paper reports on the efficacy and problems inherent in the sterilisation of complex carbon-based carrier materials such as peat. Resident microbial survivors of gamma irradiation doses in excess of 50 kGy, commonly Gram positive spore-formers such as Bacillus or actinomycetes were consistently observed. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.