Disclosed herein are microbial consortia and compositions including microbes for use in agricultural or biodegradation applications. In some embodiments, soil, plants, and/or plant parts (such as seeds, seedlings, shoots, roots, leaves, fruit, stems, or branches) are contacted with a disclosed microbial consortia or composition including microbes. The microbial consortia or microbe-containing compositions may be applied to soil, plant, and/or plant parts alone or in combination with additional components (such as chitin, chitosan, glucosamine, amino acids, and/or liquid fertilizer). In additional embodiments, the disclosed microbial consortia or compositions including microbes are used in methods of degrading biological materials, such as chitin-containing biological materials.

Disclosed herein are compositions including cells of defined sets of microbial species (for example, 3, 16, 18, 19, 21, or 22 microbial species). Also disclosed are methods of using the microbial compositions that include contacting soil, plants, plant parts, or seeds with the composition. The microbial compositions are also used in methods of degrading biological materials, such as chitin-containing biological materials.

Disclosed herein are compositions including cells of defined sets of microbial species (for example, 3, 16, 18, 19, 21, or 22 microbial species). Also disclosed are methods of using the microbial compositions that include contacting soil, plants, plant parts, or seeds with the composition. The microbial compositions are also used in methods of degrading biological materials, such as chitin-containing biological materials.

A product, system and method for an improved plant fertilizer made from harvested skimmate from a reservoir filed with a reduced sodium, artificial ocean water solution and live fish that produce fish excrement (reclaimed as skimmate). The skimmate contains a reduced concentration of sodium as a result of being harvested from a reduced sodium aquatic solution. The harvested skimmate is mixed with one or more additives to produce an improved fertilizer that may be certified as organic.

A method for ecological utilization of silver carp, including the pretreatment of silver carp and the process of making canned fish surimi. The fish meat of silver carp is processed canned surimi. The fish heads and bones are heated and undergo enzymatic hydrolysis by enzymes, and the residues of the filtration are prepared for fish bone powder. A filtration membrane is used to reduce the volume of the filtrate to 50% of fish surimi and then the filtrate is frozen to ice. The frozen part can be added to fish surimi. The transparent part from membrane filtration was used to produce protein powder or ingredients for beverages. Fish offal can be used to produce protein liquid fertilizer. Fish scales and skins can be used to produce collagen. The method adopts ecological utilization, which makes the silver carp meat used effectively, including its processed wastes. The method is a closed cycle process such that that no pollutants or wastes are discharged during the process.

An organic fertilizer/plant food containing molasses to increase microorganism activity in soils. The molasses provides additional nutrients to the soil that are readily available for plant intake. The molasses provides sugars to increase microorganism activity to benefit soil structure before the slower process of microorganism break-down of other organic materials can occur. The molasses may be applied to the fertilizer mixture in various ways including by spraying.

The present invention provides an organic-inorganic polymeric water-retaining fertilizer. The organic-inorganic polymeric water-retaining fertilizer is a co-polymer made by fusion and co-polymerization of an organic water-retaining monomer and an inorganic nutrient under action of a catalyst, a biological enzyme and a modifying agent. The co-polymer is of a three-dimensional mesh-like hydrophilic group structure. In a method for preparing the organic-inorganic polymeric water-retaining fertilizer, after obtaining a neutralized pre-polymer from the organic water-retaining monomer under the action of the catalyst, an initiator and a cross-linking agent are added; the inorganic nutrient and a metasilicate are added simultaneously, a solution is formed by stirring sufficiently; the biological enzyme is added for catalysis; a co-polymer is obtained after fusion and co-polymerization; and granulation and drying are carried out. Preferably, the catalyst is an inorganic alkaline solution. Preferably, the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a sodium hydroxide solution, a potassium hydroxide solution, an ammonia water and a calcium hydroxide solution.

The present invention provides an organic-inorganic polymeric water-retaining fertilizer. The organic-inorganic polymeric water-retaining fertilizer is a co-polymer made by fusion and co-polymerization of an organic water-retaining monomer and an inorganic nutrient under action of a catalyst, a biological enzyme and a modifying agent. The co-polymer is of a three-dimensional mesh-like hydrophilic group structure. In a method for preparing the organic-inorganic polymeric water-retaining fertilizer, after obtaining a neutralized pre-polymer from the organic water-retaining monomer under the action of the catalyst, an initiator and a cross-linking agent are added; the inorganic nutrient and a metasilicate are added simultaneously, a solution is formed by stirring sufficiently; the biological enzyme is added for catalysis; a co-polymer is obtained after fusion and co-polymerization; and granulation and drying are carried out. Preferably, the catalyst is an inorganic alkaline solution. Preferably, the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a sodium hydroxide solution, a potassium hydroxide solution, an ammonia water and a calcium hydroxide solution.

A fertilizer composition comprising a base composition, a plurality of wool pellets comprising wool, and at least one animal product selected from the group consisting of blood meal, meat and bone meal, fish meal, and tankage. Related methods of forming the fertilizer composition comprise providing a plurality of wool pellets to a base composition, adding the at least one animal product to the base composition, and mixing the plurality of wool pellets, the at least one animal product, and the base composition to form a fertilizer composition comprising the plurality of wool pellets, the at least one animal product, and the base composition. Related methods of providing at least one nutrient to a plant are also described.

A granular fertilizer or soil conditioner (10) containing a bio-based core matrix (12) with at least one nitrogen compound and an inert barrier layer (12) thereon. The fertilizer or soil conditioner may be used to replace commercially available soil conditioners or chemical or mineral fertilizers.