Microbe-Based Compositions for Restoring Soil Health and Controlling Pests
Compositions and methods are provided for enhancing soil health and/or plant health. In particular, the subject invention relates to compositions comprising microbes and/or their growth by-products for use in improving fertility, salinity, water retention, and other soil characteristics, as well as controlling pests and stimulating the growth of plants. In certain embodiments, the growth by-products are biosurfactants.
1 - 6 . (canceled)
7 . A method of enhancing soil health and/or plant health, the method comprising applying a composition comprising a live and/or inactivated Starmerella bombicola, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus mojavensis, Burkholderia thailandensis, Pseudozyma aphidis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and/or Myxococcus xanthus microorganism, growth by-products thereof, optionally, a fermentation broth and/or solid-state substrate in which the microorganism was cultivated, and optionally, one or more sources of prebiotics, to the soil and/or plant.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sources of prebiotics are kelp extract, fulvic acid, chitin, humate and/or humic acid.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the growth by-products are biosurfactants.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the biosurfactants produced by the S. bombicola, B. thailandensis, P. aphidis and S. cerevisiae are glycolipids.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the glycolipids are rhamnolipids, mannosylerythritol lipids and/or sophorolipids.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the biosurfactants produced by the B. mojavensis, B. amyloliquefaciens and M. xanthus are lipopeptides.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the lipopeptides are fengycin, iturin and/or surfactin.
14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one or more qualities of the soil are improved.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the water retention capability of the soil is improved.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the water drainage and/or dispersal capabilities of the soil are improved.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the nutrient content of the soil is improved.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein pollutants in the soil are reduced and/or removed.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein salinity of the soil is reduced.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the osmotic pressure in the soil is reduced.
21 . The method of claim 7 , used to control a pest.
22 . The method of claim 7 , used to activate a plant's defensive mechanisms.
23 . The method of claim 7 , used to stimulate the growth of a plant.
24 . The method of claim 7 , wherein GHG emissions are reduced.
25 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising characterizing the soil type prior to applying the composition to the soil.