Bio-stimulant for improved plant growth and development

Abstract

A bio-stimulant composition for obtaining improved plant growth, either combined or uncombined with urea and/or other agricultural compounds, as well of methods of producing and using said composition.

Claims

1. A method effective in increasing pasture dry matter response comprising: applying to pasture a composition comprising: a fermentation broth formulated for foliar application, wherein the fermentation broth comprises a mixture of cellular components from one or more strains of bacteria and one or more strains of yeast which have been grown in a broth to a range of about 10.sup.6 to about 10.sup.10 cfu/ml and then lysed in the broth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises urea.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Propionibacter strains.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the yeast are selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Candida, Pichia, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, lssatchenkia, and Kloeckera strains.

5. A method effective in stimulating nitrogen uptake in plants comprising: applying to a plant a composition comprising: a fermentation broth formulated for foliar application, wherein the fermentation broth comprises a mixture of cellular components from one or more strains of bacteria and one or more strains of yeast which have been grown in a broth to a range of about 10.sup.6 to about 10.sup.10 cfu/ml and then lysed in the broth.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of corn, potato, and cotton.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Propionibacter strains.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the yeast are selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Candida, Pichia, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, lssatchenkia, and Kloeckera strains.

9. A method effective in stimulating amino acid synthesis in plants comprising: applying to a plant a composition comprising: a fermentation broth formulated for foliar application, wherein the fermentation broth comprises a mixture of cellular components from one or more strains of bacteria and one or more strains of yeast which have been grown in a broth to a range of about 10.sup.6 to about 10.sup.10 cfu/ml and then lysed in the broth.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of corn, potato, and cotton.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Propionibacter strains.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the yeast are selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Candida, Pichia, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, lssatchenkia, and Kloeckera strains.

13. A method comprising: applying to pasture a composition comprising: a fermentation broth formulated for foliar application, wherein the fermentation broth comprises a mixture of cellular components from one or more strains of bacteria and one or more strains of yeast which have been grown in a broth to a range of about 10.sup.6 to about 10.sup.10 cfu/ml and then lysed in the broth.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Propionibacter strains.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the yeast are selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Candida, Pichia, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, lssatchenkia, and Kloeckera strains.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the pasture of clover.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the composition further comprises urea.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the clover is white clover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments are described with reference to specific embodiments thereof and with reference to the figures.

(2) FIG. 1: Field testing results for the bio-stimulant composition (Donaghys LessN® 40) compared to sprays containing the same amount of urea (U 40) and double the amount of urea (U 80) at Day 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) The bio-stimulant is produced by fermentation of a single species or combination of microorganisms including but not limited to lactic acid bacteria and yeasts that are then killed or lysed. Any microorganism or combinations of microorganisms capable of fermentation can be used in accordance with the embodiments described herein. The fermentation can involve growing a liquid broth that includes carbohydrate and mineral sources for the microorganisms. Any fermentation media can be used, and many suitable media are well known in the art.

(4) Bacteria useful for the embodiments described herein include but are not limited to Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus (also called Streptococcus salivairus) and Propionibacter freudenreichii. Embodiments encompass various species of Lactobaccilius, Streptococcus, and Propionibacter. As further examples, the invention encompasses Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus murinus, Lactobacillus paraplantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc oenos, Bifidobacter bifidus, Propionibacter shermani, Propionibacter pelophilus, and Propionivibro limicola.

(5) Yeasts useful for the embodiments described herein include but are not limited to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The embodiments encompass various species of Saccharomyces. As further examples, the embodiments encompass Saccharomyces pastorianus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces exiguous, Saccharomyces pombe, as well as species of Candida, Pichia, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, Issatchenkia, Kluyveromyces, and Kloeckera.

(6) In accordance with embodiments described herein, the microorganisms produce a range of growth promoting compounds including cytokinins, betaines, gibberellins and antioxidants. There is also a range of amino acids, oligopeptides and cell fragments resulting from the lysis of the microorganisms. In particular aspects, the microorganisms can be grown in the media to concentrations of about 10.sup.4 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.5 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.6 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.7 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.8 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.9 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.10 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.11 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.12 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.13 cfu/ml, about 10.sup.14 cfu/ml, or in a range of about 10.sup.6 to about 10.sup.10 cfu/ml, or about 10.sup.7 cfu/ml to about 10.sup.9 cfu/ml.

(7) The microorganisms can be killed or lysed by various means, for example, by freezing, heating, bead beating, detergents including non-ionic and zwitterionic detergents, low pH treatment including by hydrochloric, hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids, and high pH treatment including by sodium hydroxide. Also included is enzymatic lysis including but not limited to one or more of types of cellulase, glycanase, lysozyme, lysostaphin, mannase, mutanolysin, protease and zymolase enzymes.

(8) Included also is solvent treatment such as with sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment followed by acetone solvent use, or ultrasonic treatment. Further included are means which increase pressure followed by a rapid decrease in pressure such as is achievable with a pressure bomb, cell bomb, or with processors that provide high shear pressure such as valve type processors including but not limited to French pressure cell press or rotor-stator processors or fixed geometry fluid processors.

(9) The compositions and formulations described herein can be applied to plants by various means, including sprays, sprinklers, drips, dips, drenches, dressings, oils, and any, type of irrigation system. As non-limiting examples, embodiments encompass foliar sprays, turf sprays, in-furrow sprays, root dips, root drenches, stem drenches, seedling drenches, tuber drenches, fruit drenches, soil drenches, soil drips, and soil injections. As further examples, the compositions and formulations can be applied in dry form, e.g., granules, microgranules, powders, pellets, sticks, flakes, crystals, and crumbles.

(10) For formulations, the bio-stimulant composition can be combined with urea, e.g., for concentrations of urea at about 0.1 kg/L, about 0.12 kg/L, about 0.15 kg/L, about 0.18 kg/L, about 0.2 kg/L, about 0.22 kg/L, about 0.25 kg/L, about 0.28 kg/L, about 0.3 kg/L, about 0.35 kg/L, about 0.38 kg/L, about 0.4 kg/L, about 0.42 kg/L, about 0.45 kg/L, about 0.48 kg/L, or about 0.50 kg/L, or in a range of about 0.15 kg/L to about 0.25 kg/L, or about 0.18 kg/L to about 0.22 kg/L, or about 0.35 kg/L to about 0.45 kg/L, or about 0.38 kg/L to about 0.42 kg/L.

(11) The composition described herein can be used to stimulate plant growth and the plant immune system. It can be used to overcome periods of plant stress. In particular, the bio-stimulant composition described herein can be used to assist the plant to achieve more efficient nutrient utilisation. The composition described herein is understood to act as a biological growth promoter that assists pasture production through the stimulation of plant photosynthesis, proliferation of the fine feeder roots and subsequent increased nutrient uptake.

(12) The bio-stimulant composition can be applied at a time when soil temperatures are conducive to pasture or crop growth response. The composition can be applied by diluting by a factor of at least one in ten and can be distributed by spraying or through irrigation. The bio-stimulant composition can be used for improving pasture growth and is also useful on a wide range of crops.

(13) The composition described herein may comprise a range of naturally produced and balanced growth promotion factors. The principal precursors are forms of cytokinin (a microbial and plant hormone responsible for promoting cell division and growth), betaines (substances used by plant cells for protection against osmotic stress, drought, high salinity or high temperature) and oligopeptides (short chains of amino acids that improve nutrient uptake through cell membranes). Although plants produce their own cytokinin, production may be restricted when the plant is under stress.

(14) The use of the composition described herein enhances nitrogen utilisation. It has also been shown to encourage white clover growth relative to perennial ryegrass. This has benefits because of the high feed value of white clover and the importance of root nodules of this plant in fixing atmospheric nitrogen so that more nitrogen is available for use by the plant itself and other pasture plants. In addition, the use of the composition described herein reduces the amount of urea that needs to be applied. This benefits the clover component of pasture because higher rates of nitrogen can potentially reduce nitrogen fixation rates of clover and also favours grass growth over clover growth.

EXAMPLES

(15) The examples described herein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments described herein. Other embodiments, methods, and types of analyses are within the scope of persons of ordinary skill in the molecular diagnostic arts and need not be described in detail hereon. Other embodiments within the scope of the art are considered to be part of the embodiments described herein.

Example 1

Fermentation Broth

(16) The bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus and Propionibacter freudenreichii and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated and maintained using standard methods known in the art. A broth medium was prepared using Diffco™ Lactobacilli MRS Broth augmented with the following ingredients.

(17) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Fermentation broth composition (all ingredients per litre of broth) DiffcoTM Lactobacilli MRS Broth 55 g Urea 2 g Carrot Juice 1.25 mL Molasses powder from sugar cane 2.5 g

(18) The broth was prepared by constant stirring while bring to the boil and keeping there for one minute. This ensured full dissolving of the broth medium, urea and molasses.

(19) The broth was then sterilised in autoclave (121° C. for 15 mins) and poured into a sterilised 20 L bioreactor. After the broth was cooled to about 35° C., pure cultures of the three bacterial species (minimum of 10.sup.6 colony forming units or cfu s for each species) and one yeast species (minimum 10.sup.4 cfu's) were then added to the broth using standard sterile technique known in the art to avoid contamination with other microbial species. The fermentation was run for 12 days at 35° C. by which stage there were at least 10.sup.8 cfu per mL of the dominant species Lactobacillus plantarum.

(20) The fermentation broth was then placed in a fixed geometry fluid processor for cell lysis of the microorganisms. Two passes were required with the broth being cooled in between passes to compensate for the temperature increase due to pressurisation and release. The process was optimised for pressure to a maximum of 200 MPa.

Example 2

Preparation of the Formulation with Dissolved Urea

(21) Urea fertiliser prills were dissolved in water at a concentration of 40 kg urea per 197 L total volume. Dissolution was aided by agitation of the water without a requirement for heating the water.

(22) The dissolving of urea is an endothermic process and the time taken to dissolve depends on the concentration of urea and total volume involved as well as the initial temperature of the water and the method of agitation. With constant stirring and an initial water temperature of 12° C., the complete dissolution of urea (sourced from Ballance Agri-nutrients Limited, Tauranga New Zealand) at the above concentration and volume took 7 minutes. Source and amount of hardener added to urea prills in their manufacture are likely to affect the speed of dissolution in water.

(23) The dissolved urea solution had a pH of around 9.0. The majority of the nitrogen, however, was found to remain in the organic form. Titrametric determination as known in the art revealed only 0.004% ammonium nitrogen and 0.002% nitrate nitrogen expressed in terms of grams of these forms per 100 mL of solution.

(24) Once the urea was fully dissolved, lysed fermentation broth as prepared in Example 1 was added at a rate of 3 L broth to 197 L volume of urea solution. As the broth had an acidic pH of 3.6 due largely to the presence of organic acid fermentation products, the pH of the total solution was brought closer to neutral to a pH of around 6.2. Both the dissolved urea and the comparatively small amount of broth had a low buffering effect on solution pH.

(25) The prepared solution was then ready to be applied to pasture or suitable crops.

Example 3

Field Experiment Utilising the Formulation on Pasture in Conjunction with Dissolved Urea Fertiliser

(26) Introduction: The field trial's objective was to identify if Donaghys LessN® (3 L/ha) applied in combination with 40 kg/ha urea (18 kg N), would increase the pasture dry matter (DM) response to a level equivalent to 80 kg/ha urea (37 kg N/ha). Pasture DM accumulation was measured by Grass Master (GM) probe on Day one (pre-treatment, start point) and 21 Days after treatment application. The GM Probe estimated DM accumulation using pre-programmed calibration equation provided by the manufacturer.

(27) Methodology: A dairy farm property with irrigation was selected in mid-Canterbury region of New Zealand in December 2007. A recently grazed paddock with even pasture cover was selected to reduce variability between plots. The paddock was in re-growth phase having just been grazed by stock. Livestock were excluded from the trial area during the trial period.

(28) A complete randomised block design (CRBD) consisting of 4 treatments (FIG. 1) with 5 replicate plots used for each treatment. This provided a total of 20 plots, which was divided into 5 blocks. Within each block one replicate of all 5 treatments was randomly assigned.

(29) Within each block, treatments were randomly allocated to plots, using a random number generator. Plots were 4 m wide by a 100 m long. The spray boom was 4 m wide. Plots were marked with 60 cm long flags, at 0, halfway and full length.

(30) Pre-treatment pasture dry matter was estimated for each plot by using the Grass Master Probe. Measurements were taken on every other pace one way up the plot length, randomly dropping probe to near where foot falls but at least 15 cm away from body to avoid false reading. This resulted in around 50-65 readings for each plot. Individual readings were spoken into an audio recorder and later listened and entered into Excel sheet for analysis. Readings were taken in each plot without knowledge of what the plot treatment is to eliminate risk of bias. The probe was set to “slow” reading (i.e. takes around 3 seconds to read). The probe was left stable for each reading until it emitted a beep. Average pasture cover recorded on the first day was used as the baseline for each plot from which growth was based.

(31) The spray tank was cleaned and the nozzles checked. The spray pump is set at 30 psi. The spray rig was calibrated, using containers to collect volume of spray over time information from each nozzle, to deliver 200 L per hectare equivalent using the amount of time to deliver given volume of water and maintaining an appropriate speed (10 km/hour).

(32) Control: Fifty 50 liters of water was added to the spray tank. The pump was started 1-2 m prior to plot perimeter and the vehicle was driven steadily at the determined speed (around 10 km/hour) over each control plot. The tank was then emptied.

(33) U40-(Dissolved Urea sprayed at 40 kg urea/ha): Twenty liters of water was added to the spray tank and then 10 kg or urea prills was added. The water was stirred until all urea dissolved. The tank was then topped up with approximately 23 L of water to make a total volume of 50L. The nozzles where checked again for correct operating and the pressure set at 30 psi. The pump was started 1-2 m prior to plot perimeter and the vehicle was driven steadily at the determined speed (around 10 km.hour) over each U40 plot. The tank was then emptied and rinsed with water.

(34) Donaghys LessN® 40-(Dissolved Urea sprayed at 40 kg urea/ha with 3 L of the broth called Donaghys LessN®: Twenty liters of water was added to the spray tank andthen 10 kg of urea prills was added. The water was stirred until all urea dissolved. Fermentation broth was at 0.75 L to the solution and then the tank was topped up with approximately 22.25 L of water to make a total volume of 50 L. The nozzles where checked again for correct operating and the pressure set at 30 psi. The pump was started 1-2 m prior to plot perimeter and the vehicle was driven steadily at the determined speed (around 10 km.hour) over each Donaghys LessN® 40 plot. The tank was then emptied and rinsed with water.

(35) U80-(Dissolved Urea sprayed at 80 kg urea/ha): Thirty five liters of water was added to the spray tank and then 20 kg or urea prills was added. The water was stirred until all urea dissolved which took about 25 minutes. The tank was then topped up with approximately one liter of water to make a total volume of 50 L. The nozzles where checked again for correct operating and the pressure set at 30 psi. The pump was started 1-2 m prior to plot perimeter and the vehicle was driven steadily at the determined speed (around 10 km.hour) over each U80 plot. The tank was then emptied and rinsed with water.

(36) Post Treatment-Pasture DM Measurements: Post-treatment pasture dry matter was assessed 23 days after treatment by using a Grass Master Probe using the methods described for pre-treatment readings.

(37) Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was performed in Genstat using analysis of variance (ANOVA) in CRBD. The level of significance of treatment differences was assessed.

(38) Results: Pasture growth was calculated from subtracting the relevant baseline pasture dry matter measurement from the pasture dry matter measurement at the end of each of the three grazing rotations. Donaghys LessN® 40 performed similarly to Urea 80 and both these treatments caused statistically significantly greater pasture growth than Urea 40 (which was not statistically significantly better than Control).

(39) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Pasture dry matter production (kg/ha) Treatment DM Rotation 1* Control 1322.sup.a Urea 40 1527.sup.a Urea 80 1979.sup.b Donaghys LessN ® 40 1809.sup.b .sup.a,bNumbers with a different letter beside them are statistically significantly different from each other (p < 0.05)

(40) All publications and patents mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Any discussion of the publications and patents throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such constitute prior art, or widely known or common general knowledge in the field.

(41) Where the foregoing description reference has been made to integers having known equivalents thereof, those equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is appreciated that further modifications may be made to the invention as described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention illustratively described herein may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, or limitation or limitations, which are not specifically disclosed herein as essential.

(42) In addition, in each instance herein, in embodiments or examples of the present invention, the terms ‘comprising’, ‘including’, etc. are to be read expansively without limitation. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say in the sense of “including but not limited to”.