A composition comprising at least one superabsorbent polymer and at least one water soluble phosphate and optionally a plant advantageous additive.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for reducing emissions of deleterious atmospheric gases and/or precursors thereof from a flooded ecosystem comprising: one or more small molecules that reduce the production of one or more deleterious atmospheric gases and/or precursors thereof and one or more agriculturally suitable carriers.

A method for preparing an iron silicon sulfur multi-element composite biochar soil heavy metal conditioner, including: adding silicate to agricultural wastes and roasting with air isolated to enable silicate to enter structural pores of biochar; enabling iron-containing slats to gather on kaolinite with a given proportion; enabling sulfate to gather on bentonite with a given proportion; mixing the above three materials evenly according to a given proportion; and adding diatomite and starch to the mixture, and pelleting to prepare the iron silicon sulfur multi-element composite biochar soil heavy metal conditioner. The conditioner can be widely applied in soil heavy metal pollution abatement of rice fields, and it is able to synchronously passivate composite pollutants in acid or alkaline soils to reduce the amount of pollutants absorbed by and accumulated in rice, thereby achieving safe utilization of polluted farmland.

A heavy metal cadmium deactivator for activating the activity of sulfur-reducing bacteria in rice field soil, and an application thereof. The deactivator is constituted by electron shuttles alone or electron shuttles and electron donors, but cannot be constituted by electron donors alone. The mass ratio of the electron donors to the electron shuttles is (1:3)-(1:8). Also, a heavy metal cadmium deactivating method for activating the activity of microorganisms in rice field soil, such as sulfur-reducing bacteria. By applying the functional deactivator to rice field soil, the activity of microorganisms, such as sulfur-reducing bacteria, can be activated, thereby accelerating the reduction process of sulfur and iron in soil to facilitate the fixation of cadmium; cadmium adsorption and accumulation in rice is reduced to achieve secure production in fields moderately or lightly polluted by cadmium.

The invention discloses a method for the preparation and use of a slow-release iron-based biochar soil heavy metal passivator. The slow-release iron-based biochar soil heavy metal passivator of the present invention is prepared by an one-step method, wherein iron-based biochar, kaolin and a biological starch are mixed into a core material in a specific ratio; an acidic silica sol and a chitosan solution are prepared, under the effects of an alkaline catalyst and an emulsifier, as a chitosan and silica-sol composite material as a coating, and the iron-based biochar is coated with the alkaline coating material, with the core material and the coating material being controlled at a certain volume ratio. The passivator has a wide raw material source, a simple and convenient preparation process, easy industrialized production, and can passivate the heavy metal arsenic and cadmium efficiently and inhibit the absorption and accumulation of arsenic and cadmium. The passivator prepared by the present invention can last for 4 growing seasons and has a higher passivation efficiency and a longer action time than common iron-based biochar passivators. The passivator can be widely used in the control of arsenic and cadmium pollution farmland.

The present invention provides a new mulch material that can control weed growth and enhance the fertility and richness of the underlying soil. The mulch material of the invention can decompose and be absorbed into the underlying soil over time. The present invention also provides a method for making such biodegradable mulch material. In one preferred embodiment, the biodegradable mulch comprises biodegradable newsprint and/or newspaper. leaves, and coffee grounds.

Disclosed is a potassium humate sulfur compound granule and process for making the same granule. The potassium humate sulfur compound granule including a potassium humate component and an elemental sulfur component at a ratio of about 1:20; where the potassium humate component of the granule fully solubilizes upon application to a desired site and enhances conversion of the sulfur component into sulfate by at least about 15% as compared to elemental sulfur alone.

A method is described for improving water retention in soil, which involves mixing a super absorbing resin (SAR) composite with the soil. The SAR composite comprises a natural pozzolan and at least one polymer or copolymer. The SAR composite may be in the form of granules having an average longest dimension of 0.2-10 mm, though the SAR composite may be pelletized or formed in other sizes. The SAR composite may release water at a faster rate in a soil when exposed to drought conditions.

A biological water retention material, a method for preparing the same and a use thereof. A Bacillus subtilis, named as Bacillus subtilis GE1, which has been deposited in China General Microbiological Culture Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences on Jan. 7, 2016, with a deposit number of CGMCC No. 11964, solves the problem of lacking a biological water retention material that fully combines water retention materials with microbial agents to increase the survival rate of silviculture under drought conditions by increasing soil moisture content as well as enhancing the drought resistance of plants. It is suitable for use under drought and water shortage conditions, and can fully utilize the coupling effect of water retention and bacterial agents, increasing the survival rate of silviculture under drought conditions and promoting seedling growth by increasing soil moisture content as well as enhancing the drought resistance of plants.

Described herein are synergetic preparations for enhancing the water holding capacities of solid plant growth medium, consisting of a) ground zeolite, and b) powdered hypocalcic Montmorillonite expanse clay, and optionally c) granular expansive clay. Wherein the ratio of zeolite to Montmorillonite is between 1 to 0.25 and 1 to 30, and the ratio of powdered hypocalcic Montmorillonite expanse clay in the total amount of expansive clay is between 2 and 100%. Further optionally including components which aid product attractiveness, extend soil water retention, and assist plant and soil microbe growth.