Highly Concentrated Liquid Soybean Inoculant Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial soybean inoculants have a limited shelf life and require refrigerated storage, making them impractical for widespread use, and applying high doses can exceed the maximum liquid limit, increasing the risk of seed deterioration and treatment failure.
Innovation Solution
A highly concentrated liquid soybean inoculant with a bacterial count of 10^10 to 10^11 cfu/mL, capable of being stored and transported at room temperature for up to 2 years, using a stabilization process involving centrifugation and stabilizers like sucrose and trehalose, allowing for low-dose application without refrigeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If commercial liquid inoculants are stored at room temperature, then storage and transport become simpler, but shelf life is limited to 6-18 months
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the bacterial suspension from standard levels to highly concentrated (10^10-10^11 cfu/mL). This parameter change allows the inoculant to maintain stability and effectiveness at room temperature for extended periods (up to 2 years) while remaining in liquid form, thus resolving the contradiction between storage convenience and shelf life.
2Reliability
If high doses of inoculant are applied (2-3 mL/kg), then bacterial coverage is sufficient, but total liquid volume exceeds maximum limit and increases seed deterioration risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the bacterial suspension to highly concentrated levels (10^10-10^11 cfu/mL). This allows the application dose to be reduced from 2-3 mL/kg to 0.5-2 mL/kg while maintaining sufficient bacterial coverage, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage effectiveness and seed deterioration risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using only 0.5-2 mL/kg of the highly concentrated inoculant, which is less than the conventional 2-3 mL/kg dose, yet achieves sufficient bacterial coverage due to the higher concentration, thereby reducing the harmful effect on seed integrity.
3Quantity of substance
If paste form inoculants are used, then high concentration is achieved, but refrigerated storage and activation process are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter to highly concentrated levels (10^10-10^11 cfu/mL) while maintaining liquid form, eliminating the need for refrigeration and activation processes required by paste forms. This resolves the contradiction between achieving high concentration and maintaining storage/application simplicity.
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 solution extends the shelf life of the inoculant, reduces the risk of seed deterioration, and allows for effective low-dose application with other agrochemicals, maintaining bacterial viability and nodulation efficiency even after 1.5 to 2 years of storage.
Implementation Method 1
using a stabilization process involving centrifugation and stabilizers like sucrose and trehalose
Implementation Method 2
using a stabilization process involving centrifugation
Data Source
AI summary
This invention includes the composition of a highly concentrated liquid inoculant (between 1010 and 1011 cfu/mL) for soybean crops. The composition is packed and has a shelf life of up to 2 years stored at temperatures of up to 25° C. The inoculant may be applied in low doses onto seeds or in the furrow.