Gel-Based Biofertiliser Composition for Extended Microbial Survival
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carrier-based biofertilisers face issues such as low shelf-life, poor survival under adverse conditions, high contamination, and inconsistent field performance.
Innovation Solution
A procedure involving sterilization, growth, fermentation, separation, gel synthesis, and mixing steps to create a biofertiliser composition that includes specific microorganisms and a protective gel, ensuring long-term storage and resistance to adverse conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carrier-based biofertilisers are prepared using known techniques, then they can be produced and applied, but they exhibit low shelf-life and poor survival under adverse conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective carrier material as an intermediary between the microorganisms and the external environment. This carrier acts as a mediator that protects microorganisms from adverse conditions during storage and application, thereby extending shelf-life and improving survival rates without requiring complex additional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the carrier material to optimize microorganism protection. By adjusting parameters such as porosity, moisture content, and chemical composition of the carrier, the system achieves extended storage duration and improved microorganism viability under varying environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If carrier-based biofertilisers are prepared using known techniques, then they can be produced, but they exhibit a high degree of contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary sterilization and purification steps before the main biofertiliser formulation process. By pre-treating the carrier material and preparing sterile culture media in advance, the system prevents contamination during subsequent steps, achieving high purity without requiring overly complex continuous sterilization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical filtration and sterilization systems with biologically-based purification methods. By using selective microbial growth conditions and natural competitive exclusion principles, the system achieves contamination control through biochemical mechanisms rather than complex mechanical barriers.
3Reliability
If carrier-based biofertilisers are prepared using known techniques, then they can be produced, but they show inconsistent field performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically controls and standardizes critical process parameters including incubation temperature, pH levels, moisture content, and carrier-to-microorganism ratios. By maintaining these parameters within optimized ranges throughout production, the system achieves consistent microorganism viability and activity, leading to reliable field performance without requiring excessively complex process control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite formulation combining specific carrier materials with selected microorganism strains in defined proportions. This composite approach ensures consistent interaction between components, providing reproducible performance characteristics across different production batches and field conditions while maintaining manageable process complexity.
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 biofertiliser composition maintains microorganisms alive for extended periods, enhances their effectiveness, and provides immediate fertilising action, independent of soil conditions, with improved nutrient absorption and transport.
Implementation Method 1
The procedure preferably comprises at least one gel synthesis step
Implementation Method 2
selective microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae, which are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen
Implementation Method 3
converting soluble phosphate and potassium in the soil into forms available to plants
Implementation Method 4
The procedure preferably comprises at least one separation step
Data Source
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AI summary
Procedure for making a biofertiliser composition (1) comprising: a first growth step wherein at least one first microbiological culture (2) is produced; a first preparation step wherein a culture medium (3) is produced; a first mixing step wherein the first culture (2) is mixed with the culture medium (3) to obtain a second microbiological culture (4); a second growth step wherein the second culture (4) is subjected to fermentation to obtain a third microbiological culture (5); a separation step wherein from the third culture (5) a fourth microbiological culture (6) and a residual culture medium (30) are separated; a synthesising step wherein a gel (8) is synthesised; and a second mixing step wherein the gel (8) is mixed with the fourth culture (6) to obtain the composition (1).