Fictibacillus enclensis Biochar Inoculum for Crop Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for enhancing crop growth and pest resistance often rely on costly and environmentally detrimental techniques such as genetic modification and intensive fertilization, which can harm ecosystems and are not universally accessible or affordable.

Innovation Solution

The use of a novel bacterial strain, Fictibacillus enclensis, in conjunction with biochar as an inoculum carrier, to promote plant growth and increase pest resistance, producing Indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores, and having nitrogen-fixing abilities, is proposed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If genetic modification and intensive fertilization are used to enhance crop growth, then productivity and yield are improved, but environmental harm and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop yieldVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs plant growth-promoting bacteria that autonomously perform beneficial functions including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and production of plant hormones. These microbes self-regulate and provide sustained growth promotion without external intervention, replacing the need for intensive fertilization while avoiding environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention substitutes chemical fertilization and genetic modification approaches with biological mechanisms. Plant growth-promoting bacteria replace the mechanical action of intensive fertilization through biological processes such as nitrogen fixation and hormone production, achieving similar productivity gains without environmental degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If genetic modification and intensive fertilization are used to enhance crop growth, then productivity and yield are improved, but cost and accessibility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop yieldVSAvoidcost and accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes cost-effective biochar material as a carrier for plant growth-promoting bacteria. Biochar is produced from abundant agricultural waste through pyrolysis, making it an inexpensive and widely accessible substrate that can be applied to soils without requiring expensive specialized equipment or inputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The plant growth-promoting bacteria provide sustained, self-regulating growth promotion that eliminates the need for continuous expensive fertilization. The microbial community maintains productivity over time through autonomous nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and hormone production, reducing long-term costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If intensive fertilization is used to enhance crop growth, then productivity is improved, but soil and aquatic ecosystem damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop yieldVSAvoidsoil and aquatic ecosystem damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The plant growth-promoting bacteria autonomously perform nutrient acquisition and plant hormone production functions. They self-regulate their metabolic activities to provide sustained growth promotion without requiring external fertilization inputs, thereby preventing soil and aquatic ecosystem damage associated with intensive fertilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the discard-and-recover model of intensive fertilization (where nutrients are continuously added and wasted) with a regenerative approach. The plant growth-promoting bacteria efficiently cycle and recover nutrients within the soil ecosystem through biological processes, eliminating the need for continuous external input and preventing environmental pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

This approach enhances plant growth by increasing fruit weight, shoot length, and pest resistance without harming the ecosystem, offering a cost-effective and accessible solution for improving food security.

Implementation Method 1

producing Indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIndole-3-acetic acid production:

Implementation Method 2

producing Indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSiderophore production:

Implementation Method 3

having nitrogen-fixing abilities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNitrogen fixation:

Implementation Method 4

an inoculum carrier such as biochar

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11825849B2Methods and compositions for increasing plant growth using a biochar-microbial composite

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Provided is an isolated bacterial strain of the genus Fictibacillus, a composition comprising the isolated bacterial strain and an inoculum carrier such as biochar, a method of increasing growth and/or pest resistance of a plant comprising inoculating a plant with the aforementioned strain or composition, and a kit for the use of the above methods and compositions.