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 liquid complex fertilizer or soil amendment composition is provided, made by steps of alkaline hydrolysis of fish under aqueous conditions and conditions of temperature and agitation suitable to provide a liquid fish hydrolysate comprising one or more humic substances. Methods for producing the liquid complex fertilizer are described.

A method of pH regulating biomass residues includes the steps of: providing biomass residue comprising solid and liquid parts; exposing the biomass to one or more separation steps, wherein said biomass is separated into one or more solid fractions having a reduced content of water, and one or more fluid fractions; and adding a pH regulator to the biomass residue, and/or the one or more solid fractions, and/or the one or more fluid fractions, wherein the pH regulator comprises a juice derived from agricultural biomass and/or fish manure.

A method of pH regulating biomass residues includes the steps of: providing biomass residue comprising solid and liquid parts; exposing the biomass to one or more separation steps, wherein said biomass is separated into one or more solid fractions having a reduced content of water, and one or more fluid fractions; and adding a pH regulator to the biomass residue, and/or the one or more solid fractions, and/or the one or more fluid fractions, wherein the pH regulator comprises a juice derived from agricultural biomass and/or fish manure.

A bacterial product may comprise strains Azospirillum oryzae AO.sub.512, Azospirillum lipoferum AL.sub.20, Pantoea dispersa PD.sub.2, Bacillus subtilis TU.sub.2, Lysinibacillus sphaericus 3S and Paenibacillus polymyxa SR.sub.17, in a total minimal concentration of 10.sup.8 CFU/g (Colony forming Units). These bacteria may be attached to an insoluble granular carrier formed of a mixture of natural clays and minerals. This formulation may preserve the viability of the microorganism for a long time while in storage, as well as after its application on the field. These microorganisms, as PGPR, may be capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, potassium, as well as other minerals immobilized in the soil, which allows for a drastic reduction, and even for a complete elimination, of conventional fertilization methods. These bacteria are not harmful in any sense neither to human beings nor the environment.

A bacterial product may comprise strains Azospirillum oryzae AO.sub.512, Azospirillum lipoferum AL.sub.20, Pantoea dispersa PD.sub.2, Bacillus subtilis TU.sub.2, Lysinibacillus sphaericus 3S and Paenibacillus polymyxa SR.sub.17, in a total minimal concentration of 10.sup.8 CFU/g (Colony forming Units). These bacteria may be attached to an insoluble granular carrier formed of a mixture of natural clays and minerals. This formulation may preserve the viability of the microorganism for a long time while in storage, as well as after its application on the field. These microorganisms, as PGPR, may be capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, potassium, as well as other minerals immobilized in the soil, which allows for a drastic reduction, and even for a complete elimination, of conventional fertilization methods. These bacteria are not harmful in any sense neither to human beings nor the environment.

The present disclosure refers to a keratin-based substrate, comprising a keratin derivative and natural biopolymer, where the keratin derivative and natural biopolymer are crosslinked. The present disclosure also refers to a method of forming a keratin-based substrate, comprising (i) mixing a solution of keratin derivative with a solution of natural biopolymer; and (ii) drying the resulting solution of step (i) to obtain the keratin-based substrate. The present disclosure further relates to the use of the substrate as a plant growth medium or hydroponic support medium. In a preferred embodiment, a substrate comprising keratin intermediate filament protein and cellulose nanofibers is provided.

The present invention relates to the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation to fix the nitrogen from multiple sources for organic and sustainable farming. It particularly relates to the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation which reduces the use of chemical fertilizer and increase nutrients use efficiency and nitrogen bio-availability for better crop productivity and sustainable agriculture along with increasing the crop nutrition, crop productivity and soil fertility. It specifically relates to the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation containing nitrogen fixers from multiple sources such as Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Rhizobium sp., and Gluconacetobater diazotrophicus. The invention also relates to the process for preparation of the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation to fix the nitrogen from multiple sources for organic and sustainable farming. The invention further relates to the method for management of plant growth or crops by using Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation with full of life for better crop productivity and sustainable agriculture along with increasing the crop nutrition, crop productivity and soil fertility.

The present invention relates to the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation to fix the nitrogen from multiple sources for organic and sustainable farming. It particularly relates to the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation which reduces the use of chemical fertilizer and increase nutrients use efficiency and nitrogen bio-availability for better crop productivity and sustainable agriculture along with increasing the crop nutrition, crop productivity and soil fertility. It specifically relates to the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation containing nitrogen fixers from multiple sources such as Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Rhizobium sp., and Gluconacetobater diazotrophicus. The invention also relates to the process for preparation of the Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation to fix the nitrogen from multiple sources for organic and sustainable farming. The invention further relates to the method for management of plant growth or crops by using Bio-Nitrogen fertilizer formulation with full of life for better crop productivity and sustainable agriculture along with increasing the crop nutrition, crop productivity and soil fertility.