Planting methods to improve crop yields

Abstract

This invention provides a planting method that improves crop yields. [Solution] The method includes the steps of (a) providing a fermented natto liquid obtained by fermenting a strain of Bacillus subtilis natto in a fermentation medium, and (b) applying the fermented natto liquid to a crop planting site and planting the crop. The yield of crops planted using the method of the present invention is clearly higher than the yield of crops planted using conventional methods that only involve fertilization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for planting agricultural crops, and in particular to a planting method capable of increasing the yield of agricultural crops.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, global climate change has intensified, and disasters such as high temperatures, floods, and droughts have occurred frequently around the world. This has damaged global food supply and reserves, caused insufficient food supply and increased food prices, and triggered problems such as uneven food distribution and food shortages. In particular, developing countries or countries that rely on food imports need to carefully address the challenge of the food crisis.

[0003] Food crops are generally a collective term for edible agricultural crops such as cereals, beans, and tubers, with a great variety, including common agricultural crops such as rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans. Among these, rice (also called paddy) is one of the most important staple food crops for humankind. The planting and harvesting of these agricultural crops not only require a great deal of labor, but are also easily affected by many factors such as land, climate, plant diseases and insect pests, and seed sources, and it usually takes several months or more from planting to harvesting. Therefore, how to increase yield under the constraints of factors such as land, labor, and time has become a primary focus.

[0004] Taking conventional paddy rice cultivation as an example, after transplanting paddy rice seedlings into a paddy field (i.e., rice transplanting), multiple applications of fertilizer (such as nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, etc.) are carried out at different times during the planting process. This ensures that sufficient elements and nutrients required for the growth and development of paddy rice are provided, avoids yield reduction caused by malnutrition of paddy rice, and achieves the objective of increasing the yield per unit area of rice.

[0005] However, while conventional methods of fertilizing crops can increase yields, they do not effectively solve the problem of food shortages. Therefore, it is currently necessary to research and develop crop planting techniques to further improve crop yields, thereby providing solutions to address the challenges of the food crisis. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In view of the problems present in the prior art described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a planting method that improves the yield of crops, and when planted using this method, the yield of harvested crops is clearly higher (for example, more than 18%) than the yield of crops harvested by planting with only conventional fertilization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present invention provides a planting method for improving crop yields, comprising the steps of (a) providing a fermented natto liquid obtained by fermenting a strain of Bacillus subtilis natto in a fermentation medium, and (b) applying the fermented natto liquid to a crop planting site and planting the crop.

[0008] By using natto bacteria to ferment and obtain a natto fermentation liquid, then applying this natto fermentation liquid to the crop planting area before planting the crops, the yield of the crops harvested last can be improved, resulting in a yield increase of 18% or more compared to conventional planting methods using only fertilizer.

[0009] In this invention, the "natto bacteria" is also called "Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto", "Bacillus natto", "Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto", or "Bacillus subtilis var. natto".

[0010] In the present invention, the fermented natto bacillus liquid is obtained by fermentation using a currently known strain of natto bacillus. For example, as the natto bacillus strain, one can select natto bacillus NTU-18 (Bacillus subtilis natto NTU-18), which has deposit number BCRC 80390, but is not limited to this.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, in step (a), the natto bacillus strain is fermented in the fermentation medium for 5 to 7 days under conditions of 25°C to 35°C to obtain the natto bacillus fermentation liquid.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, in step (a), the fermentation medium comprises water and a fermentation substrate. The fermentation substrate is a protein-rich material suitable for use in fermentation, but is not limited to this.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the content of the fermentation substrate is 3% by weight (wt%) to 12 wt%, based on the total weight of the fermentation medium.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fermentation substrate includes soybean meal, soybeans, protein powder, or a combination thereof.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, in step (a), the natto bacteria strain is directly added to the fermentation medium to obtain the natto bacteria fermentation liquid, and the content of the natto bacteria strain is 0.1 wt% to 1 wt% based on the total weight of the fermentation medium.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, in step (a), the natto bacillus strain is placed in a culture medium and activated to obtain a natto bacillus liquid, and then the natto bacillus liquid is placed in the fermentation medium and fermented, and the content of the natto bacillus liquid is set to 1 volume percent (vol%) to 10 vol% based on the total volume of the fermentation medium.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, in step (b), the crop includes rice, corn, wheat, soybeans, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the present invention, the rice may be paddy rice or upland rice. Specifically, the variety of rice may be, but is not limited to, Kaohsiung No. 147 or Tainan No. 11.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, in step (b), the amount of fermented natto bacteria liquid used is 60 ml (mL) to 150 mL, based on the area of ​​the planting site of 1 square meter. In another embodiment of the present invention, in step (b), the amount of fermented natto bacteria liquid used is 70 mL to 130 mL, based on the area of ​​the planting site of 1 square meter.

[0019] In the present invention, in step (b), "planting the crop" means a general planting process for crops known in the art, which includes, but is not limited to, processes necessary for maintaining the normal growth and development of the crop, such as fertilization, irrigation, weeding, or pest control.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, step (b) further comprises the step of applying a fertilizer to the planting area. The fertilizer may be, but is not limited to, a nitrogen fertilizer, a phosphorus fertilizer, a potassium fertilizer (e.g., potassium humate), an animal fertilizer (e.g., animal excrement), or a combination thereof. The fertilizer may be applied to the planting area before, after, or simultaneously with the application of the natto fermentation liquid to the planting area.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, step (b) further comprises the step of applying tea lees powder to the planting area. The tea lees powder may be the residue remaining after oil extraction from assamica seeds, and is also called assamica lees. The tea lees powder may be applied to the planting area before, after, or simultaneously with the application of the natto fermentation liquid or the fertilizer to the planting area.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer may be applied to the planting site before, after, or simultaneously with the application of the tea dreg powder to the planting site.

[0023] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, a range expressed as "from a smaller value to a larger value" indicates that the range is greater than or equal to the smaller value and less than or equal to the larger value. For example, when the temperature is 25°C to 35°C, this indicates that the temperature range may be "greater than or equal to 25°C and less than or equal to 35°C". BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of a planting method for improving the yield of agricultural crops according to the present invention. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is an appearance photograph of rice planted by the method of Example 2. [Figure 2B] FIG. 3 is an appearance photograph of rice planted by the method of Comparative Example 2. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to a plurality of examples and comparative examples. A person skilled in the art can readily understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the content of the following examples. It should be understood that the examples listed in the present specification are merely for exemplarily describing embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. A person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations to implement or apply the content of the present invention based on common knowledge without departing from the spirit of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0026] Planting Method for Improving Yield of Agricultural Crops In Example 1, a paddy field in the Meinong Section 5265 area of ​​Meinong District, Kaohsiung, was selected as the planting site, with a planting area of ​​approximately 1454.876 square meters. Kaohsiung No. 147 rice was selected as the crop, and the planting method for improving crop yield according to the present invention was implemented. The rice planting period in Example 1 was the first rice planting period.

[0027] Specifically, in order to obtain a fermented natto bacillus fermentation liquid, the natto bacillus strain (natto bacillus NTU-18, deposit number BCRC 80390) was directly added to the fermentation medium, and then fermented by shaking culture at room temperature (approximately 25°C) for 5 days. The fermentation medium contained water and soybean meal (used as the fermentation substrate), and based on the total weight of the fermentation medium, the content of the natto bacillus strain was approximately 0.3 wt%, and the content of soybean meal was approximately 5 wt%.

[0028] Meanwhile, after irrigating and leveling the aforementioned planting area, 30 kilograms of tea leaf powder and 120 kilograms of animal fertilizer were added to the planting area, and then seedlings of Kaohsiung No. 147 rice were transplanted to the planting area and rice planting was carried out. Approximately four days after rice planting, approximately 120 kilograms of organic fertilizer (whose main component is brewing residue) and approximately 25 kilograms of potassium humate were added to the planting area, and then approximately 120 liters of the aforementioned natto bacteria fermentation liquid were added to the planting area, after which subsequent rice planting was carried out.

[0029] The subsequent rice plantings mentioned above involved applying approximately 40 kilograms of top dressing fertilizer No. 105 to the planting area approximately 10 days, 33 days (top dressing), and 55 days (first panicle fertilization) after transplanting, and applying approximately 40 kilograms of top dressing fertilizer No. 43 to the planting area approximately 74 days after transplanting (second panicle fertilization). Finally, the rice was harvested approximately 121 days after transplanting. [Examples]

[0030] Planting methods to improve crop yields In Example 2, paddy fields in the areas of Changliangli and 155-6, Yuli Township, Hualien City were selected as planting sites, with a total area of ​​approximately 2230.809 square meters. Kaohsiung No. 147 rice was selected as the crop, and the planting method for improving crop yield according to the present invention was implemented. The rice planting period in Example 2 was the second rice planting period.

[0031] Specifically, a fermented natto bacillus fermentation solution was obtained according to the same process and conditions as described in Example 1. Meanwhile, after irrigating and leveling the aforementioned planting area, approximately 40 kilograms of potassium humate were first added to the planting area, then approximately 160 liters of the aforementioned fermented natto bacillus fermentation solution were added, and finally, approximately 200 kilograms of organic fertilizer (whose main component is brewing residue) and approximately 30 kilograms of tea lees powder were mixed and added to the planting area. Next, on the third day, seedlings of Kaohsiung No. 147 rice were transplanted to the planting area and planted. Finally, the rice was harvested approximately 115 days after planting. Note that during the implementation of Example 2, a severe typhoon occurred, causing flooding of the paddy field and strong winds that affected the rice stalks, thus impacting the rice yield. Comparative Example 1

[0032] Conventional planting method In Comparative Example 1, a paddy field in the Meinong Section 5255 area of ​​Meinong District, Kaohsiung, was selected as the planting site, with an area of ​​approximately 26,963.693 square meters. Kaohsiung No. 147 rice was selected as the crop, and the conventional planting method was implemented. Since planting in Comparative Example 1 was carried out simultaneously with Example 1, the rice planting period for Comparative Example 1 was also the first rice planting period.

[0033] The rice planting process in Comparative Example 1 was almost the same as in Example 1, the main difference being that in Comparative Example 1, natto fermentation liquid, tea lees powder, animal fertilizer, and potassium humate were not added to the planting soil during rice planting. Aside from the aforementioned difference, Comparative Example 1 followed the same planting process as Example 1, and the rice was harvested approximately 121 days after planting. Comparative Example 2

[0034] Conventional planting method In Comparative Example 2, paddy fields in the areas of Changliangli and 155-6, Yuli Township, Hualien City were selected as planting sites, with a total area of ​​approximately 11,348.029 square meters. Kaohsiung No. 147 rice was selected as the crop, and the conventional planting method was implemented. In Comparative Example 2, planting was carried out simultaneously in different areas of the same planting site as in Example 2, so the rice planting period in Comparative Example 2 was also the second rice planting period.

[0035] The rice planting process in Comparative Example 2 was almost the same as in Example 2, the main difference being that in Comparative Example 2, the natto fermentation liquid was not added to the planting soil during rice planting. Aside from the aforementioned difference, Comparative Example 2 followed the same planting process as Example 2, and harvested the rice approximately 115 days after planting.

[0036] Analysis 1: Measurement of crop yield In Analysis 1, after removing the grains from the rice harvested in Example 1, Example 2, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2, the grains were weighed to obtain the wet grain weight for each group. The wet grain weight was then divided by the area of ​​the planting plot for each group to obtain the wet grain weight that could be harvested per square meter of land for each group. Subsequently, the wet grains from each group were dried and weighed to obtain the dry grain weight for each group. The dry grain weight was then divided by the area of ​​the planting plot for each group to obtain the dry grain weight that could be harvested per square meter of land for each group. Table 1 below shows the measured wet and dry grain weights that could be harvested per square meter of land for Example 1, Example 2, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2. The weight difference between Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, and between Example 2 and Comparative Example 2, is also shown in Table 1. Please note that "1 fen," a common land area unit in Taiwan, is approximately equal to 969.917 square meters.

[0037] [Table 1]

[0038] As can be seen from the results in Table 1 above, under similar planting environmental conditions, the rice yield obtained by the method in Example 1 was clearly higher than the rice yield obtained by the method in Comparative Example 1, and the rice yield obtained by the method in Example 2 was also clearly higher than the rice yield obtained by the method in Comparative Example 2. As can be seen from this, the method according to the present invention certainly has the effect of improving crop yields by at least 18% compared to conventional planting methods.

[0039] Analysis 2: Observation of the appearance of crops. Analysis 2 was conducted by taking photographs of the rice plants with a camera 25 days after planting during the rice planting process for Example 2 and Comparative Example 2, and the results are shown in Figures 2A and 2B, respectively.

[0040] As can be seen from Figures 2A and 2B, the rice of Example 2 had a significantly larger number of stems and grew more vigorously compared to the rice of Comparative Example 2. This demonstrated that the rice of Example 2 was able to produce more rice ears during the subsequent heading stage and achieve an even higher grain yield.

[0041] Based on the above, the planting method for improving crop yield according to the present invention can achieve the effect of improving crop yield by adding a fermented natto liquid obtained by fermenting natto bacteria during crop planting to the crop planting ground, thereby providing a solution to address the food crisis and providing commercial value.

Claims

1. (a) A fermented liquid of Bacillus subtilis natto obtained by fermenting a strain of Bacillus subtilis natto in a fermentation medium, A planting method for improving crop yield, comprising the step (b) applying the fermented natto liquid to a crop planting site and planting the crop.

2. The planting method for improving the yield of agricultural products according to claim 1, wherein in step (a), the natto bacteria strain is fermented in the fermentation medium for 5 to 7 days under conditions of 25°C to 35°C to obtain the natto bacteria fermentation liquid.

3. The planting method for improving the yield of crops according to claim 1, wherein in step (a), the fermentation medium comprises water and a fermentation substrate, and the fermentation substrate comprises soybean meal, soybeans, protein powder, or a combination thereof.

4. The planting method for improving the yield of crops according to claim 3, wherein the content of the fermentation substrate is 3% to 12% by weight, based on the total weight of the fermentation medium.

5. The planting method for improving the yield of agricultural products according to claim 1, wherein in step (a), the natto bacteria strain is directly added to the fermentation medium to obtain the natto bacteria fermentation liquid, and the content of the natto bacteria strain is 0.1% by weight to 1% by weight based on the total weight of the fermentation medium.

6. The planting method for improving the yield of crops according to claim 1, wherein in step (b), the crops include rice, corn, wheat, soybeans, or a combination thereof.

7. The planting method for improving the yield of agricultural crops according to claim 1, wherein in step (b), the amount of natto fermentation liquid used is 60 milliliters to 150 milliliters based on the area of ​​the planting site of 1 square meter.

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