Bacillus and Rosculus Protozoa Cysts in Organic Fertilizer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The efficacy of organic fertilizers supplemented with bacteria is limited by the low persistence of these microorganisms in the soil, leading to reduced nitrogen availability and plant growth, as they face competition and predation from indigenous microflora in the rhizosphere.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating cysts of protozoa from the genus Rosculus into organic fertilizers, specifically with Bacillus species, enhances the survival and activity of beneficial bacteria, promoting mineralization and plant growth by creating a favorable microbial composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beneficial bacteria are added to organic fertilizers, then mineralization and plant growth are promoted, but the bacteria have low persistence in soil due to competition and predation from indigenous microflora
Solution Approach 1:
Protozoa are introduced as intermediary organisms that selectively prey on harmful indigenous bacteria while sparing the added beneficial bacteria. The protozoa act as a mediator that modifies the soil microbial environment to favor the persistence of beneficial bacteria, thereby resolving the contradiction between promoting mineralization and ensuring bacteria survival.
Solution Approach 2:
The predation pressure from protozoa, which could be harmful to bacteria, is converted into a beneficial selective force. By introducing protozoa that selectively consume harmful indigenous bacteria, the predation mechanism is transformed into a tool for enhancing beneficial bacterial persistence and mineralization efficiency.
2Duration of action of moving object
If organic fertilizers are used, then nutrients are released over time through decomposition, but the decomposition rate is slow and limited by C/N ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The C/N ratio parameter of the organic fertilizer is modified by adding nitrogen-rich beneficial bacteria and protozoa. This parameter change accelerates the decomposition rate while maintaining the sustained nutrient release characteristic, resolving the contradiction between slow decomposition and limited nutrient availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Beneficial bacteria and protozoa are pre-added to the organic fertilizer before application. These microorganisms perform preliminary decomposition actions on the organic material, kick-starting the mineralization process and accelerating nutrient release while maintaining the gradual release pattern over time.
3Quantity of substance
If beneficial bacteria are added to enhance mineralization, then nitrogen availability increases, but bacteria survival is reduced due to predation from soil organisms
Solution Approach 1:
Protozoa serve as intermediary organisms that selectively prey on harmful indigenous bacteria while protecting beneficial bacteria. This intermediary action creates a more favorable environment for beneficial bacteria survival, thereby maintaining nitrogen availability through enhanced mineralization while reducing predation losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism where protozoa consume harmful bacteria, reducing competition for resources. This feedback loop enhances the survival and reproductive success of beneficial bacteria, which in turn maintains high nitrogen availability through continued mineralization activity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combination of Bacillus and Rosculus protozoa cysts significantly increases shoot biomass, reduces the root-to-shoot ratio, and enhances the colonization of Bacillus bacteria on roots, leading to improved plant growth and nutrient availability.
Implementation Method 1
protozoa which graze on (soil) bacteria resulting in the continuous remobilization of plant-essential nutrients
Implementation Method 2
As microorganisms break down the carbon-rich organic matter, excess nutrients are released into the soil in inorganic forms that can easily be taken up by plants. This process is called mineralization.
Implementation Method 3
The organic matter causes soil particles to aggregate. As a result, pores of varying shapes and sizes arise which can be filled with water or air.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the fields of agriculture and horticulture, in particular to organic fertilizers in granular, powder or pelleted form. Provided is a fertilizer composition comprising organic sources of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium; spores or cysts of a Bacillus sp. and encysted protozoa of the genus Rosculus. Also provided is a method for growing a plant, preferably an ornamental plant, grass or a vegetable, comprising applying a fertilizer composition according to the invention in or to the soil in which the plant grows.