Four cyanobacterial inoculants all significantly increased grain and straw yield of rice either alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer. A saving of 25 kg N ha )1 can be attained through cyanobacterial fertilization. Tobacco waste-based cyanobacterial biofertilizer was best in performance. Cyanobacterial acetylene reducing activity in vivo varied from 144 to 255 lmol C 2 H 4 m )2 h )1 in different treatments, being highest for tobacco-based cyanobacterial biofertilizer integrated with 50% chemical N. The nutrient balance for total N, available N, total P and available P was found positive in biofertilizer-and chemical fertilizer-treated plots. The total and available K showed negative balance in all the treatments. The shelf-life of cyanobacterial biofertilizer can be augmented by selecting translucent packing material, dry mixing and paddy straw as a carrier. Dry mixing and a mixing ratio of 50:50 (carrier:cyanobacteria) gave better inoculum loading and shelf-life. Decrease in cyanobacterial population was least in dried cyanobacterial flacks, indicating a possibility of developing cyanobacterial biofertilizer without carrier mixing at the time of production.

Organic substances viz., sewage and slurry, compost, farmyard manure (FYM) and green manure used in the study under different moisture regimes had a varied effect on cyanobacterial nitrogenase activity and its distributional pattern. Green manure source was the most effective in enhancing cyanobacterial nitrogenase activity, followed by FYM, compost and sewage and slurry. A better response was observed in soils under waterlogged than under moist conditions. A gradual increase in nitrogenase activity was recorded up to one per cent organic carbon both in vitro and in vivo. The cyanobacterial diversity was maximum in sewage and slurry sites.

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