The present disclosure provides agricultural compositions and methods of using these compositions to increase plant growth, pathogen resistance and drought tolerance. The agricultural compositions disclosed herein comprise mixtures of mutualistic beneficial fungi such as Laccaria bicolor and Piriformispora indica, and bacterial strains of Pseudomonas.

The present disclosure provides agricultural compositions and methods of using these compositions to increase plant growth, pathogen resistance and drought tolerance. The agricultural compositions disclosed herein comprise mixtures of mutualistic beneficial fungi such as Laccaria bicolor and Piriformispora indica, and bacterial strains of Pseudomonas.

A method for inoculating a plant with a nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, said method comprising administering the nitrogen-fixing bacteria to a wound of a growing plant, for example to recently cut grass. Inoculation in this manner leads to enhanced growth characteristics including increased greenness of grass. Novel compositions suitable for use in the method are also described and claimed, together with kits for producing these.

A method for inoculating a plant with a nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, said method comprising administering the nitrogen-fixing bacteria to a wound of a growing plant, for example to recently cut grass. Inoculation in this manner leads to enhanced growth characteristics including increased greenness of grass. Novel compositions suitable for use in the method are also described and claimed, together with kits for producing these.

The invention relates to the use of polyamines, tyramine and/or a plant extract containing same to stabilise microorganisms under an environmental stress, such as oxidative stress, osmotic stress or salt stress, heat stress, acid/base stress and/or stress linked to competitor microorganisms; and a composition comprising (a) polyamines, tyramine and/or a plant extract containing same, and (b) microorganisms.

The invention relates to the use of polyamines, tyramine and/or a plant extract containing same to stabilise microorganisms under an environmental stress, such as oxidative stress, osmotic stress or salt stress, heat stress, acid/base stress and/or stress linked to competitor microorganisms; and a composition comprising (a) polyamines, tyramine and/or a plant extract containing same, and (b) microorganisms.

The present invention relates to an agronomic composition comprising zinc, manganese and microorganism(s) capable of promoting nutrient uptake by a plant from the soil. Furthermore, the present invention provides a seed coated by an agronomic composition according to the invention and a method for improving the yield of a plant, in particular for increasing nutrient uptake and/or cold tolerance in early stages of development by applying the agronomic composition according to the invention to a seed or to soil, in which a seed is planted. Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of an agronomic composition of the present invention to improve the yield of a plant. In particular, the composition of the present invention is used to improve recovery of a plant and/or to prevent tissue damage when the plant is exposed to low temperatures at the seed or seedling stage.

A method is disclosed of in-situ retention and buffering of an amount of water in soil to support the growth of an agricultural crop. The method comprises the step of adding an effective amount of a hydrogel material as a water retention agent during planting of seed in the soil. The hydrogel material including an insoluble, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose. Once penetration of water into the soil is allowed after the planting of seed, a proportion of the water which penetrates the soil is absorbed by the hydrogel material and, over time, the absorbed water is released by diffusion into the soil to support the growth of the agricultural crop. Also disclosed is the hydrogel material which comprises said carboxymethyl cellulose which has been cross-linked with a cross-linking polymer from the group consisting of: an amine monomer; an amide monomer; and an amine-amide co-polymer.

A method is disclosed of in-situ retention and buffering of an amount of water in soil to support the growth of an agricultural crop. The method comprises the step of adding an effective amount of a hydrogel material as a water retention agent during planting of seed in the soil. The hydrogel material including an insoluble, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose. Once penetration of water into the soil is allowed after the planting of seed, a proportion of the water which penetrates the soil is absorbed by the hydrogel material and, over time, the absorbed water is released by diffusion into the soil to support the growth of the agricultural crop. Also disclosed is the hydrogel material which comprises said carboxymethyl cellulose which has been cross-linked with a cross-linking polymer from the group consisting of: an amine monomer; an amide monomer; and an amine-amide co-polymer.

Methods and systems are provided for generating and utilizing a bacterial composition that comprises at least one genetically engineered bacterial strain that fixes atmospheric nitrogen in an agricultural system that has been fertilized with more than 20 lbs of Nitrogen per acre.