This invention relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a plant by associating the plant with a complex endophyte comprising a host fungus further comprising a component bacterium, including benefits to a plant derived from a seed or other plant element treated with a complex endophyte. For example, this invention provides purified complex endophytes, purified complex endophyte components such as bacteria or fungi, synthetic combinations comprising said complex endophytes and/or components, and methods of making and using the same.

Processes and methods for hydroponically sprouted cereal grains are disclosed as a mechanism for improving skeletal development, increasing nutrient levels, and maintaining or increasing future milk yield in ruminants by administering to a ruminant a feed ration having at least one feed component comprising one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains.

Processes and methods for hydroponically sprouted cereal grains are disclosed as a mechanism for improving skeletal development, increasing nutrient levels, and maintaining or increasing future milk yield in ruminants by administering to a ruminant a feed ration having at least one feed component comprising one or more hydroponically sprouted cereal grains.

A nanobioremediation method is for soil in a high-concentration polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated site. The method includes adding a carbon nanomaterial and a base fertilizer to soil in a high-concentration PAH-contaminated site, evenly broadcast sowing alfalfa seeds to the contaminated soil, and keeping the soil moisture content at 60% of the field moisture capacity, and when the alfalfa grows to the flowering or maturity stage, harvesting and removing the plants from the contaminated soil.

The present invention relates to a method for protecting the ecology of a coastal mudflat and a system used in the method. The method includes the following steps: plan and design a pond project according to the specific conditions of the target coastal mudflat to be protected; dig a trench and build a dike in the surface of the target coastal mudflat and enclose the dike to form at least one pond, wherein the trench in the pond is adjacent to the surface of the mudflat to form the pond with a large water surface, a shallow water layer and a seasonal open waterfront; and cultivate an aquatic product in the trench, with or without an emergent aquatic plant planted in the surface of the mudflat.

Method for producing soluble potassium sulfate by recrystallization of crude potassium sulfate wherein the crude potassium sulfate contains an amount of potassium, calculated as K.sub.2O, of about 15 wt % or higher, and the resulting potassium sulfate crystalline material conforms with the following characteristics: the amount of insoluble material is less than about 0.05 wt %, a 1 wt % solution of the potassium sulfate has a pH below about 6, and/or 1 pH unit lower than the pH of the crude potassium sulfate, the fraction obtained after crystallization has an average particle size within the following parameters: (i) d90<about 0.6 mm, (ii) d10>about 0.02 mm, and (iii) dust amounts to about 0.4 wt % or less, whereby the resulting potassium sulfate contains more than 51% potassium, calculated as K.sub.2O.

The present invention refers to new methods for the production of food, and/or drinks, and/or dietary supplements with a low content of cholesterol and/or with a high content of dicarboxylic acids. The present invention refers also to foodstuffs and/or drinks and/or dietary supplements that can be obtained with these methods and to their utilization, for instance in the prevention and treatment of diseases where carbohydrates and/or lipids are not correctly metabolized or in any of the pathologic states associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and Alzheimer disease. Specifically, the present invention refers to methods to produce low-cholesterol eggs and to methods to produce plants both terrestrial and aquatic plants and/or algae for food use, and/or dietary supplements and/or drinks enriched with dicarboxylic acids.

The present invention refers to new methods for the production of food, and/or drinks, and/or dietary supplements with a low content of cholesterol and/or with a high content of dicarboxylic acids. The present invention refers also to foodstuffs and/or drinks and/or dietary supplements that can be obtained with these methods and to their utilization, for instance in the prevention and treatment of diseases where carbohydrates and/or lipids are not correctly metabolized or in any of the pathologic states associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and Alzheimer disease. Specifically, the present invention refers to methods to produce low-cholesterol eggs and to methods to produce plants both terrestrial and aquatic plants and/or algae for food use, and/or dietary supplements and/or drinks enriched with dicarboxylic acids.

Provided herein are methodology and composition for use of any nut (such as almond, walnut, or pistachio) or legume (peanut) shell and/or husk material in a growing substrate, with or without other components such as peat, perlite, or coir; for plant growth, whether it be used in its whole form or some reduced form such as, having been chipped or ground, and whether composted or not.

Provided herein are methodology and composition for use of any nut (such as almond, walnut, or pistachio) or legume (peanut) shell and/or husk material in a growing substrate, with or without other components such as peat, perlite, or coir; for plant growth, whether it be used in its whole form or some reduced form such as, having been chipped or ground, and whether composted or not.