Department of Microbiology

The department of Microbiology was established in 1964 with late Dr. S.R. Vyas as the founder Professor & Head, who laid solid foundation for the subsequent growth and development of the department. Over the years, the department has made significant contribution in research, teaching and extension. The department developed a solid state fermentation process for the production of citric acid from cane molasses using improved strains of Aspergillus niger. Technology for the production of wine from locally grown grapes was developed by late Professor Vyas and the technical know-how for large scale production of wine was later given to Panipat Cooperative distillery, Panipat. A process for the direct fermentation of sugarcane for alcohol production was developed. Yeast strains have been developed for the production of ethanol from cane molasses which are being supplied to Indian distilleries. Usefulness of organic manures in maintaining soil organic matter status and their role in pollution abatement has been worked out. Technology for enrichment of compost with (i) Azotobacter for increased nitrogen content, (ii) rock phosphate for increased phosphate availability and (iii) urea for increased organic nitrogen content has been developed. Use of neem cake in controlling nitrification and slow release of nitrogen from nitrogenous fertilizers has been worked out.

Since the late sixties, the department has been in the forefront in carrying basic and applied research towards producing efficient rhizobial strains for chickpea, mungbean, urd bean, cowpea, berseem soybean and other legumes and Azotobacter for non-leguminous crops. Large scale production and distribution of biofertilizers to farmers has reached a maximum of 2,00,000 packets per year. For this activity, the department was awarded National Productivity Council Award for 1985-86. Biofertilizers of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and biocontrol inoculants of Gluconacetobacter are also being produced by the department. Molecular ecological studies of these microbes have also been carried out.

Microbial parameters in the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes for biogas production have been studied. Conditions for increasing biogas production in winter through recycling of spent slurry, and effective use of brackish water for biogas production have been worked out. Family size Janta biogas plant has been modified for solid state fermentation of cattle dung that has been tested all over India and has been found satisfactory.