Azotobacter Vinelandii Manufacturer & Exporter | Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria | Microbial Species

Azotobacter vinelandii

Azotobacter vinelandii is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium that supports crop growth by helping convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms plants can use. Because it works in the root zone without requiring a legume host, it is especially useful for non-leguminous crops such as cereals, vegetables, maize, sugarcane, and other field crops. By improving biological nitrogen availability in the soil, Azotobacter vinelandii can help support healthier root development, stronger plant vigour, better nutrient efficiency, and more sustainable nitrogen management.

Strength

1 x 10⁸ CFU per gram / 1 x 10⁹ CFU per gram / 1 x 10¹⁰ CFU per gram

Product Enquiry

Buy this species

Benefits

Biocontrol Activity

It exhibits biocontrol activity against various plant pathogens, thereby reducing disease incidence and promoting healthier plant growth.

Production of Growth-Promoting Substances

It produces growth-promoting substances such as vitamins, auxins, and gibberellins, which stimulate plant growth and development.

Nitrogen Fixation

Azotobacter vinelandii converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is readily available for plant uptake, thereby enhancing plant growth and reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers.

Phosphate Solubilization

Azotobacter vinelandii solubilizes insoluble phosphates in the soil, making phosphorus more accessible to plants, thereby improving their nutrient uptake and growth.

Scientific References

Aasfar, A., Bargaz, A., Yaakoubi, K., Hilali, A., Bennis, I., & Zeroual, Y. (2021). Nitrogen fixing Azotobacter species as potential soil biological enhancers for crop nutrition and yield stability. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 628379. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.628379

Frontiers: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.628379/full
Setubal, J. C., dos Santos, P., Goldman, B. S., Ertesvåg, H., Espin, G., Rubio, L. M., Valla, S., Almeida, N. F., Balasubramanian, D., Cromes, L., Curatti, L., Du, Z., Godsy, E., Goodner, B., Hellner-Burris, K., Hernandez, J. A., Houmiel, K., Imperial, J., Kennedy, C., … Wood, D. (2009). Genome sequence of Azotobacter vinelandii, an obligate aerobe specialized to support diverse anaerobic metabolic processes. Journal of Bacteriology, 191(14), 4534–4545. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00504-09

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19429624/
Curatti, L., Brown, C. S., Ludden, P. W., & Rubio, L. M. (2005). Genes required for rapid expression of nitrogenase activity in Azotobacter vinelandii. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(18), 6291–6296. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0501216102

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15845769/
Hill, S., Austin, S., Eydmann, T., Jones, T., & Dixon, R. (1996). Azotobacter vinelandii NIFL is a flavoprotein that modulates transcriptional activation of nitrogen-fixation genes via a redox-sensitive switch. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 93(5), 2143–2148. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.93.5.2143

PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Azotobacter+vinelandii+NIFL+flavoprotein
Howard, J. B., & Rees, D. C. (2006). How many metals does it take to fix N₂? A mechanistic overview of biological nitrogen fixation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(46), 17088–17093. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0603978103

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17088547/

Mode of Action

1. Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Azotobacter vinelandii is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium that helps convert atmospheric nitrogen gas (N₂) into ammonium (NH₄⁺), a form that can be used by plants and soil microorganisms.

Unlike symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria that require a legume host, A. vinelandii can function independently in the rhizosphere. This makes it especially valuable for non-leguminous crops such as maize, cereals, vegetables, sugarcane, and other field crops.

A key advantage of A. vinelandii is that it contains multiple nitrogenase systems, including molybdenum-, vanadium-, and iron-dependent nitrogenases. This gives the bacterium flexibility to continue supporting nitrogen fixation under different soil and environmental conditions.

Agronomic benefit: Supports biological nitrogen availability, improves nutrient efficiency, and helps reduce complete dependence on synthetic nitrogen inputs.

2. Phosphate Solubilization

Phosphorus is often present in soil but locked in insoluble forms that plant roots cannot easily absorb.

Azotobacter vinelandii can help release bound phosphorus by producing organic acids such as gluconic and citric acids.

These organic acids help dissolve mineral-bound phosphates and convert them into more available forms in the root zone.

Agronomic benefit: Improves phosphorus availability, supports root development, and helps crops make better use of existing soil phosphorus and applied phosphate fertilizers.

3. Natural Plant Growth Promotion

Azotobacter vinelandii supports plant growth not only through nitrogen fixation, but also by producing natural growth-promoting compounds that influence root and shoot development.

These may include:

Auxins — support lateral root development and root branching.

Gibberellins — support seed germination, shoot elongation, and early crop vigour.

Cytokinins — support cell division, leaf expansion, and balanced vegetative growth.

Agronomic benefit: Encourages stronger early establishment, better root architecture, improved nutrient uptake, and more vigorous crop development.

4. Rhizosphere Protection and Biocontrol Support

Azotobacter vinelandii can contribute to a healthier rhizosphere by producing siderophores, which are natural iron-binding compounds.

By binding iron in the root zone, siderophores can reduce the availability of iron to competing or harmful soil microorganisms.

Some strains may also produce antifungal metabolites that help suppress soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotium rolfsii.

Agronomic benefit: Supports a more balanced root-zone microbiome and may help reduce pressure from selected soil-borne pathogens as part of an integrated crop management program.

5. Improved Stress Tolerance

Azotobacter vinelandii can help plants perform better under challenging growing conditions by supporting root health, nutrient uptake, and microbial activity in the rhizosphere.

Its stress-support mechanisms may include:

Exopolysaccharide production — helps improve moisture retention and root-zone protection.

Enhanced antioxidant activity — supports plant defence against oxidative stress through enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and POD.

Improved nutrient uptake — helps maintain crop performance under drought, salinity, and heavy metal stress.

Support for photosynthetic efficiency — helps plants maintain growth activity under suboptimal conditions.

Agronomic benefit: Helps crops maintain stronger growth, root function, and nutrient efficiency under environmental stress.

Through nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, natural growth promotion, rhizosphere protection, and stress-support mechanisms, Azotobacter vinelandii acts as a multifunctional biological input for modern agriculture. It is particularly useful in non-leguminous cropping systems where improved nitrogen efficiency, root development, soil fertility, and crop resilience are key priorities.

Additional Info

- Storage Conditions: Store in a cool (5–25°C), dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not freeze. Keep container tightly sealed after use.
- Shelf Life: When stored under recommended conditions, the product remains viable for up to 12 months.
- Soil pH Compatibility: Functions best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils (pH 6.8–8.0). In acidic soils, pre-application of lime or incorporation of organic matter may improve efficacy.
- Crop Compatibility: Suitable for a broad spectrum of crops including cereals, legumes, vegetables, oilseeds, and plantation crops.
- Input Integration: Compatible with organic fertilizers, bio-composts, and other microbial inoculants. Avoid co-application with chemical pesticides unless verified safe.

Dosage & Application

Recommended field dosage (soil / root‑zone)

Use the following rates for root‑zone applications.

Select the rate that matches the CFU strength stated on your product label.

Product strength (CFU/g)	Recommended rate per hectare	Recommended rate per acre
1 × 10⁸ CFU/g	2.5 kg/ha	1.0 kg/ac
1 × 10⁹ CFU/g	250 g/ha	100 g/ac
1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g	25 g/ha	10 g/ac

These rates are designed so that different product strengths deliver a similar total number of spores per hectare to the root zone, supporting consistent biological performance across formulations.

Soil / Root‑Zone Treatment

Target

Apply to the soil surface over the seed row or root zone, so that the product can colonize the rhizosphere and protect roots against soil‑borne pathogens while promoting root growth and plant vigor.

Timing

In‑furrow at sowing or at transplanting.
An early post‑emergence soil drench (for example, from emergence to the 4‑leaf stage), directed to the base of the plants

Water volume and coverage

Apply the recommended product rate in 200–800 L of water per hectare (20–80 gallons per acre), depending on sprayer setup, soil conditions and crop residue.

Use enough water to achieve even coverage of the soil surface and to move the suspension into the root zone

Mixing and agitation

Fill the spray tank to about half of the required water volume with clean water.

Pre‑mix the required amount of product in a small volume of water and agitate until fully dissolved.

With the tank agitation running, slowly add this concentrate to the spray tank.

Continue filling the tank with water to the final volume while maintaining agitation.

Agitate for 5–15 minutes to ensure spores are fully dispersed and keep gentle agitation running throughout application.

Use clean, non‑chlorinated or low‑chlorine water.

Avoid very hot, highly saline or strongly alkaline water.

Seed Treatment

Our microbial products can be used as a seed coating to place beneficial organisms directly on the seed surface, ensuring rapid colonization of the emerging root and strong early growth.

Recommended rates (per kg of seed)

1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g: 1 g/kg seed

1 × 10⁹ CFU/g: 3–5 g/kg seed

1 × 10⁸ CFU/g: 100 g/kg seed

Apply as a dry or slurry coating in a suitable mixer to achieve a thin, even, free‑flowing layer on all seeds, using clean, non‑chlorinated water if a slurry is prepared.

Treat only the quantity of seed that will be planted within about 24 hours and store coated seed in a cool, dry, shaded place.

Note: These rates are general guidance. The optimal dosage can vary with seed size, seed surface area, crop species and treating equipment, so always follow product‑specific recommendations or contact us for tailored advice

Because some chemical seed treatments can reduce viability of microbial spores, avoid mixing directly with fungicidal dressings unless compatibility has been confirmed; in many programs, Trichoderma is applied as a separate or final layer.

Drip Irrigation / Fertigation

General guidance

Apply the same per‑hectare dose as in the soil treatment table (adjusted for CFU strength), divided into one or more fertigations during the early growth stages.

Product strength (CFU/g)	Recommended rate per hectare	Recommended rate per acre
1 × 10⁸ CFU/g	2.5 kg/ha	1.0 kg/ac
1 × 10⁹ CFU/g	250 g/ha	100 g/ac
1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g	25 g/ha	10 g/ac

Pre‑mix the required amount of product in a bucket of water to make a concentrate, then inject this through the fertigation system so spores are carried into the active root zone .

System considerations

The suspension will generally pass through standard drip filters, but where possible apply after sand filters and ensure filters and drippers are clean before treatment.

Apply all of the prepared solution to the root zone within 12-24 hours

FAQ

Can Azotobacter vinelandii completely replace chemical nitrogen fertilizers?

While it significantly reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirements, best results are obtained when integrated with reduced or organic nitrogen sources as part of an integrated nutrient management (INM) strategy.

In which types of soil does it perform best?

It is most effective in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soils. In acidic or saline soils, performance may improve with amendments such as lime, gypsum, or organic matter.

Can it protect against plant diseases?

Yes. A. vinelandii suppresses soil-borne pathogens through the production of siderophores, hydrogen cyanide, and antifungal compounds, providing a natural disease defense mechanism.

How does it help crops during drought conditions?

By enhancing root growth and activating antioxidant defense pathways, it increases water-use efficiency and protects plant cells from oxidative damage, improving overall drought tolerance.

What is the recommended timing and frequency of application?

Initial application should coincide with sowing or transplanting. For high-value or long-duration crops, repeat applications via drip or foliar spray may be carried out every 30–45 days to maintain microbial populations.

Is it safe for the environment and human health?

Yes. A. vinelandii is a naturally occurring, non-pathogenic bacterium that poses no known risk to humans, animals, or the environment. It aligns with global principles of organic and regenerative agriculture.