CA2996590A1

CA2996590A1 - Bio-stimulant and method of producing same

Info

Publication number: CA2996590A1
Application number: CA2996590A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ralph Jeffery Lett
Original assignee: Acterra Tech Ltd
Current assignee: Acterra Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-20
Filing date: 2018-02-27
Publication date: 2019-01-20
Also published as: CA2973961A1

Abstract

A method of producing an environmental biostimulant, the method comprising:
preparing an aqueous mixture comprising a starting material including at least one microorganism, at least one starch and water; placing the aqueous mixture in a microorganism growth environment for a first time interval;
adding at least one sugar to the mixture; placing the mixture in a fermentation environment for a second time interval; and adding a carrier to the aqueous mixturefor a third time interval. The carrier may be chosen from a group comprising water, zeolite, biochar, diatomaceous earth. Where the carrier chosen is zeolite or biochar, the method further comprises separating the carrier from the mixture; and drying the carrier to obtain the bio-stimulant product. The one or more microorganisms include a diverse plurality of groups of microorganisms.

Description

BIO-STIMULANT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME
Field:
The present disclosure relates to a bio-stimulant product for inoculating soil or other environment and methods for producing same; in particular, the present disclosure relates to bio-stimulant products for introducing a diverse plurality of groups of beneficial microorganisms to a soil or other environment.
Background:
In cultivating plants or trees, it is known that soil additives, commonly referred to as soil inoculants or bio-stimulants may be used to introduce beneficial microorganisms to the soil or growing medium of the plants, thereby promoting the growth and health of the plants being cultivated in that soil or growing medium. Plant health and growth is dependent on healthy soil biology. Beneficial microorganisms live in a symbiotic relationship with plants, supplying moisture and nutrients from the soil, and forming a natural defence system around the roots of plants, in exchange for glucose. For example, a class of fungi known as mycorrhizal fungi, effectively extend the surface area of the plant's root systems, thereby increasing the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. A further example of a beneficial microorganism that exists in symbiosis with plants is a root colonizing species of bacteria known as rhizobacteria. Rhizobacteria inhabit the roots of plants, blocking disease causing bacteria from infecting the plant.
Although beneficial microorganisms may naturally be present in soil, the use of synthetic fertilizers has led to few beneficial microorganisms and nutritional minerals remaining in soil. Thus, it may be desirable to amend soil so as to introduce beneficial microorganisms, for example by using a bio-stimulant containing a diverse plurality of groups of beneficial microorganisms, comprising of bacteria, yeast and fungi. Various different types of soil inoculants and bio-stimulants are available in the market, produced by various processes, some of which include first cultivating microorganisms on a host plant, and then harvesting the microorganisms from the host plant and processing it to thereby incorporate it into a soil inoculant product. For example, in patent application number PCT/ZA2008/000060 by inventor Venter (the' 060 patent application), a method of producing endomycorrhiza inoculum involves cultivating endomycorrhiza spores on roots of a host plant in a growing medium and sequences of steps to separate the spores and producing a spore concentrate on a carrier.
Specifically, the process embodiments described in the '060 patent application include removing a host plant from a growth medium and processing the growth medium containing spores and hyphae by washing it thoroughly with water or aqueous liquid, separating any root matter and coarse debris from the spore-containing liquid, separating the spores from the liquid, and mixing the spores with a fine absorbent carrier powder to obtain an nearly dry powder mixture. The carrier powder may include a fine zeolite powder and/or one or more clay minerals.
In patent application number PCT/ZA02/00046 by inventors Hilditch et al (the '046 patent application), a method of preparing a growth substrate for use in plant inoculation includes the steps of obtaining a viable source of microorganism, growing the microorganism in proximity to one or more propagative host plant root systems so as to encourage development of a symbiotic association between the microorganism and the propagative host plant root systems, supporting the microorganism and the propagative host plant root systems in a support medium being a suitable zeolite such as capezeo, allowing the microorganism to sporulate, terminating the growth of the propagative host plant root systems, allowing the microorganism tempter state of dormancy in response to the termination of growth of the propagative host plant root systems, and separating the microorganism, associated propagative host plant root systems and supports medium from the remainder of the propagative host plant.
In US patent number 8,728,460 by inventor Spittle (the '460 patent), a soil treatment composition is described which includes combining beneficial soil fungi and bacteria in a growth promoting nutrient medium and embedding it in an organic porous ceramic particle for direct delivery during soil aerification. The process of manufacturing the soil treatment composition, as described in the '460 patent, includes spraying the porous carrier particles with a biological soil treatment composition. Carbohydrates and other food sources for the dormant bacteria and fungi are included to increase the colony forming of the organisms.
In European patent application number 93913523.2 by inventor Sakai et al (the '523 patent application), a process for producing a substance inoculated with a vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) fungus is disclosed, which comprises cultivating a plant infected with a VAM fungus belonging to the genus Gigaspora by using a base material comprising calcined amber loam, or a mixture of calcined amber loam and calcined attapulgite, to thereby proliferate the VAM fungus.
The process prepares a substance inoculated with a VAM fungus. Examples of carriers may include, for example, zeolite, foam clay, talc, pearlite, vermiculite, calcined amber loam, pumice, limestone, soil, sand, coke and peat moss.

2 So as to prevent contamination of the carrier with indigenous microbes, the carrier is subjected to sterilization (including calcination) prior to its use. A sterilized soil or a calcined amber loam is preferably used. After the spore density has come to be sufficiently high, the use calcined amber loam or other carrier is recovered to isolate the formed VAM inoculant, which is optionally dried if desired to obtain the final inoculant product. In the examples given in the '523 patent application, the host plants are grown for a period of 16 weeks after transplantation before the soil inoculants were produced from the used calcined amber loam or other carriers.
Summary:
In accordance with the present disclosure, in one embodiment, a method for producing a bio-stimulant product containing a diverse plurality of groups of microorganisms as well as other micronutrients includes using a starting material, for example humus having sufficient amounts of beneficial microorganisms and, optionally, a desired mixture of micronutrients. The starting material is mixed together with water and an appropriate starchy carbohydrate so as to facilitate the growth of the microorganisms. The aqueous starting material/carbohydrate mixture is left in the dark for approximately one week. Sugar or molasses are then added to the mixture and the mixture is again placed in the dark for another two to four weeks allowing it to ferment, which turns the mixture into a water soluble, viscous mixture. A carrier, such as zeolite, biochar, or diatomaceous earth is then added, causing the a diverse plurality of a group of microorganisms, as well as any available micronutrients, to become absorbed and/or adsorbed into the pores of the carrier and then the carrier is then separated from the aqueous mixture water and dried, preferably in the dark, to produce the bio-stimulant product.
Water may also be used as a carrier, eliminating the steps of separating the carrier from the aqueous mixture and drying the carrier.
Generally speaking, bio-stimulant products may be used to add beneficial microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, and fungal spores or fungi, and/or micronutrients, to a soil or growth medium (the terms growth medium and soil are used interchangeably herein).
In another aspect of the present disclosure, customized bio-stimulant products may be produced for particular applications. For example, certain species of beneficial bacteria and fungus may be particularly beneficial to certain types of plants, and so a bio-stimulant product may be customized so as to provide those particular bacterial and fungal species, in some embodiments also producing a

3 particular ratio of those species, as well as customizing the particular types of micronutrients in accordance with the particular plant to be grown in the inoculated growth medium or soil. The bio-stimulant product may further be customized to have either an acidic, basic, or neutral pH by varying the carrier used, achieving the optimal pH environment for the plant to be grown using the bio-stimulant. For example, zeolite is neutral, water is acidic, and biochar is alkaline. If an alkaline pH
environment is optimal for the plant's health and growth, biochar would be the most suitable carrier.
In further aspects of the present disclosure, the bio-stimulant product may be used to boost the immune system of animals, by increasing the number of beneficial microorganisms inhabiting the animal's skin, fur, feathers, or intestine.
The bio-stimulant product itself has beneficial advantages, and is itself inventive, the advantages including, use a fungicide, to treat for example, mildew infected plants.
In other aspects of the present disclosure, the bio-stimulant product may be used for the treatment of manure, transforming the waste into a useable fertilizer and agriculture product. The method of using the bio-stimulant product for the treatment of waste is provided, the method comprising: applying a bio-stimulant product to manure for a first time interval; running the bio-stimulant and manure mixture through an apparatus adapted to apply centrifugal force; wherein the bio-stimulant, manure mixture is separated into a solid and a liquid component. The solid component, containing potassium, phosphate, and nitrogen may be used as a fertilizer, while the liquid component, containing high concentrations of potassium may have many uses in agriculture.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of producing a bio-stimulant product is provided, the method comprising: preparing an aqueous mixture comprising a starting material including one or more microorganisms, at least one starch and water; placing the mixture in a microorganism growth environment for a first time interval; adding at least one sugar to the mixture;
placing the mixture in a fermentation environment for a second time interval;
and adding a carrier to the aqueous mixture for a third time interval.
Detailed Description The methods and processes disclosed herein provide for the preparation and customization of bio-stimulants containing a diverse plurality of a group of microorganisms for various different

4 applications. Beneficial microorganisms promote the growing process and in addition play a role in disease suppression. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a bio-stimulant may be prepared containing one or more groups of microorganisms, for example, which promote the growth of plants and trees by forming a symbiotic relationship between the microorganisms and the plants or trees underneath the soil. The diverse group of microorganisms found in the bio-stimulant, such as photosynthesizing bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and fermenting fungi, allows the microorganisms to survive in the soil environment and work synergistically to suppress harmful microorganisms.
As is known, beneficial microorganisms promote the healthy growth and development of plants and trees in soil, or other growth media, and is naturally present in soils with high organic material content. (The terms soil and growth medium are used interchangeably in the present disclosure).
However, in agricultural and other environments the soil may be depleted of naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms over time, for example, through the use of synthetic fertilizers, thereby requiring reintroduction of the beneficial microorganisms to the soil so as to promote healthy plant growth. The diverse combination of microorganisms in the bio-stimulant product helps restore a .. healthy balance of microorganisms in the soil. Furthermore, micronutrients are also essential to the healthy growth and development of various plants and trees. Similarly, while such micronutrients are often found in the natural environment, they may be depleted in certain areas over time where the soil has been used many times for growing plants or trees, for example on agricultural plots or in residential areas, and also thereby may require the addition or re-introduction of such micronutrients into the soil being used for growing plants.
In other prior art processes for producing bio-stimulants containing beneficial microorganisms, of which the applicant is aware, such processes usually involve cultivating the microorganisms on a host plant, typically for a period of several weeks, and then harvesting the microorganisms from the host plant to produce the bio-stimulant. In the processes and methods disclosed herein, by identifying a starting material which contains the beneficial microorganisms and which is preferably void of contaminants, such as harmful bacteria, in the starting material, the applicant has discovered that there are processes by which the beneficial microorganisms may be cultivated directly from the starting material, without having to use host plants to cultivate the microorganisms over a period of weeks, and without the use of bioreactors and the like. Advantageously, the processes disclosed herein may therefore cost less and take less time to produce the bio-stimulant with desired concentrations of beneficial microorganisms for use in soil microorganism reintroduction.
Furthermore, the applicant has

5 found that the processes disclosed herein require fewer steps, in comparison to other processes, because it is not necessary to first separate microorganisms from the host plants in order to produce the bio-stimulant. Advantageously, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, it may be the case that the beneficial microorganism concentration of the bio-stimulants produced in the present processes disclosed herein may exceed the concentrations produced using other methods.
Furthermore, the beneficial microorganisms included in the process may be customizable for the plant to be grown, by choosing an appropriate starting material, as described in further detail below.
In other aspects of the present disclosure, where it is desired to add micronutrients to the bio-stimulant, the careful selection of an appropriate starting material which contain those micronutrients may result in bio-stimulants including concentrations of those desired micronutrients. Therefore, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, it is not necessary to provide an additional source of micronutrients in the manufacture of the bio-stimulant because an appropriately selected starting material may already include those desired micronutrients. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, where the starting material does not contain the desired micronutrients that need to be added to the bio-stimulant, or does not include the desired micronutrients in the required quantities, such micronutrients may simply be introduced into the mixture during the manufacture process of the bio-stimulants, or may also be included in the selected carrier to be added during the process. The addition of micronutrients may occur at any step in the process of producing the bio-stimulant.
In other aspects of the present disclosure, in addition to creating bio-stimulants for introducing beneficial microorganisms and optionally, micronutrients to the soil, other applications of the bio-stimulant product are available.
Without intending to be limiting, the bio-stimulant may be applied to manure or digestate to convert the manure into fertilizer. For example, manure or digestate may be soaked in the bio-stimulant product, wherein the carrier is liquid, for up to 2 weeks in large holding tanks. Then, the bio-stimulant and manure mixture may be pumped through a centrifuge, separating the mixture into a liquid and solid component. The solid component, made up of 2 parts potassium, 2 parts phosphate and 2 parts nitrogen, may be used as a fertilizer. The liquid component, containing high concentration of potassium, may have many uses in agriculture, as potassium plays a crucial role in a number of physiological processes vital to growth, health and yield of crops. Furthermore, application of the bio-stimulant product to the manure helps reduce odor.

6 The bio-stimulant product may be used as a fungicide as well. Mildew is a fungal disease affecting plants, characterized by a white coating on the surface of the affected parts of the plant.
Mildew results in poor plant growth and lower yields. The applicant has found spraying affected plants with the bio-stimulant product wherein the carrier is liquid, and the product includes a plurality of microorganisms chosen from the group comprising, torulaspora delbruekii, acetobacter indonesiensis, acetobacter orientalis, acetobacter melorum, and sporolactobacillus nakayamea, results in eradication of mildew. The bio-stimulant product containing this group of microorganisms may replicated in a bioreactor for use as a fungicide.
The bio-stimulant product may also be used as a tool to promote animal health and growth by boosting the animal's immune system. Beneficial microorganisms found in the bio-stimulant product can help reduce or even eliminate disease-causing bacteria which may be found on an animal's skin, fur or feathers, or intestine, for example. The applicant has found that spraying chicks with the bio-stimulant product, wherein the carrier is liquid, results in weight gain without increasing the chicks' diets.
Furthermore, the applicant has found the use of the bio-stimulant product reduced the mortality rate of .. the sick chicks, and overall resulted in healthier and stronger chicks.
Other possible applications for the processes described herein include loading a carrier, such as zeolite or biochar, with other types of bacteria for remediating contaminated water, or for removing sour gas from sour gas wells or other types of wellheads. For example, without intending to be limiting, remediation products which contain oleispira antarctica bacteria may be used for consuming oil spills in .. cold water, alcaninvorax borkumensis bacteria for consuming oil spills in warm water, or nitrate-reducing bacteria which may consume hydrogen sulphide in sour gas wellheads or other types of wellheads. Without intending to be limiting, appropriate starting materials for producing a remediation product containing nitrate-reducing bacteria may include, for example, chicken manure. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that various types of organic materials containing specific types .. of bacteria may be used as starting materials to produce bio-stimulant products or remediation products.
As mentioned, the processes disclosed herein for producing bio-stimulants include identifying appropriate starting materials. Without intending to be limiting, in some embodiments of the present disclosure it is desirable to select starting materials which do not contain undesirable contaminants, for example harmful bacteria which may enter plants being grown for food and thereby enter the human food supply chain. Different plants are adapted to grow in different soil compositions, and growing them

7 in the wrong type of soil can be harmful to their health and growth. Healthy soil is the basis for a healthy and strong plant. Thus, the starting material may be chosen based on the plant intended to be grown.
For example, and without intending to be limiting, if the targeted plant is a blueberry bush, the starting material may be taken from the soil of a blueberry bush that is a healthy, high yielding plant. The soil from a healthy blueberry bush will contain the microorganisms and nutrients necessary for the successful growth of subsequent blueberry plants.
A further example of an appropriate starting material, for bio-stimulants designed to reintroduce beneficial microorganisms into the soil for promoting plant growth, may include a compost or humus which contains the desired level of living biological activity.
Compost or humus may contain microorganisms such as, rhizobacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and fermenting fungi.
Additionally, such starting materials may also include certain micronutrients.
Compost or humus may often contain different mixtures of micronutrients which are desirable for promoting healthy plant growth for particular types of plants.
For example, without intending to be limiting, the applicant has sourced forest humus which contains a desirable mixture of different types of microorganisms, and also includes various different micronutrients including in particular calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron in quantities which are optimal for promoting healthy plant growth. In addition, the forest humus starting material identified by the applicant further includes smaller quantities of available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and boron which again support the healthy growth of plants. Importantly, the forest humus source identified by the applicant for producing the bio-stimulant product does not contain harmful bacteria or plant disease pathogens, according to analyses conducted on the starting material.
While the above description of the specific starting material, comprising forest humus identified by the applicant, is an example of an appropriate starting material for the bio-stimulant production disclosed herein, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other appropriate starting materials may not contain these exact components, may include other components, and are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, other appropriate starting materials may contain different mixtures of micronutrients, or may not have any micronutrients or negligible amounts of micronutrients. Other examples of compounds or substances in a starting material that may be useful include humic acid, which may increase the absorption of the microorganisms by the zeolite or biochar, in the processes described below.

8 Once an appropriate starting material has been identified, the process for producing a bio-stimulant, in one aspect of the present disclosure, includes preparing an aqueous mixture comprising the identified starting material, at least one starch, and water. The aqueous mixture is then placed into a microorganism growth environment for a given time interval so as to facilitate the growth and multiplication of the microorganisms which exist in the starting material. For example, for producing a bio-stimulant which includes rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi spores, the aqueous mixture would include a starting material which has rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. The volume of starting material is then mixed with water and a starch so as to create an aqueous mixture that will promote the growth of the beneficial microorganisms. Without intending to be limiting, an example for the ratio of components in the aqueous mixture would be approximately 80% starting material, 10% water and 10%
starchy carbohydrates by volume.
The starch provides a food source for the beneficial microorganisms to grow.
Appropriate starches may include, for example, oats, rice, but may include any other type of starch, including barley, grains, potato meal, cornstarch, coconut husks, peat, wood chips, corn or any other appropriate starch for promoting the growth of the targeted microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus. Another starch source may include brewery waste, otherwise referred to as spent grain or leftover beer mash.
Optionally, the starch may be ground up so as to increase the surface area of the starch in the aqueous mixture for the beneficial microorganisms to feed upon. In other embodiments in which a remediation product is produced, the food source for a remediation product containing nitrate-reducing bacteria may include chicken manure or other appropriate materials containing nitrate for the nitrate-reducing bacteria to feed upon.
Once the aqueous mixture has been prepared, it is placed in a microorganism growth environment which promotes the growth of the beneficial microorganisms that are desired to be produced. For example, the applicant has found that placing the aqueous mixture into a dark environment in which there is little or no light or air, combined with maintaining a temperature in that environment of approximately 30 C for a first time interval of approximately one week effectively enables the beneficial microorganisms to multiply to the required concentrations for producing the bio-stimulant. However, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other microorganism growth environments may also be appropriate for promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms.
For example, the temperature may vary, in some embodiments for promoting growth of beneficial microorganisms, between 5 C and 40 C, depending on the particular types of microorganisms being

9 grown. In other embodiments, for example for producing remedial products containing bacteria, the temperature range may be between 15 C and 40 C, depending on the type of bacteria being grown.
As another example, the time interval for the microorganism's growth need not be limited to seven days, and for example may be approximately in the range of four to fourteen days. The specific growing conditions for promoting microorganism growth may vary depending on the type of microorganisms which are being cultivated for the bio-stimulant or remediation product. However, in the applicant's experience, in the embodiments for producing a bio-stimulant containing a diverse group of microorganisms, for example, comprising torulaspora delbruekii, acetobacter indonesiensis, acetobacter orientalis, acetobacter melorum, and sporolactobacillus nakayamea, leaving the aqueous mixture in a dark environment at a temperature of approximately 30 C for approximately two to four weeks has produced sufficient microorganism growth for further processing to produce a bio-stimulant containing a diverse group of microorganisms.
Once the aqueous solution contains sufficient amounts of targeted beneficial microorganisms, at least one sugar is added to the aqueous mixture, and then the aqueous mixture is placed into an environment adjusted for fermentation purposes for a second time interval. For example, without intending to be limiting, sugar may be introduced to the aqueous mixture at a ratio of one part sugar to two parts aqueous solution, by volume. The addition of sugar to the aqueous mixture enables fermentation of the mixture. The applicant has found that this process produces a substantially homogenous, viscous mixture, without chunks of humus or other starting material. Any type of sugar may be used for the fermentation process and is intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure. Without intending to be limiting, different types of sugars which may be added include cane sugar, beet sugar, molasses, or other appropriate types of sugar for encouraging fermentation. The fermentation promoting environment may include, for an example, placing the aqueous mixture with the sugar added into a dark environment in which there is little or no light or air, and maintaining the temperature of the environment in the range of 5 C to 40 C, and preferably, in the range of approximately 30 C, for embodiments to produce bio-stimulants containing a diverse group of microorganisms comprising torulaspora delbruekii, acetobacter indonesiensis, acetobacter orientalis, acetobacter melorum, and sporolactobacillus nakayamea. The second time interval, for example without intending to be limiting, may be approximately one to two weeks. In other embodiments for producing remedial products containing bacteria, the environment may be maintained at a temperature in the range of 15 C to 40 C. The fermentation process also results in the production of volatile fatty acids, which play a role in disease suppression and are used by microorganisms to assist with reproduction and growth. In addition to facilitating fermentation, the applicant suspects the addition of sugar at this stage in the process may play a further role in extending the shelf life of the final bio-stimulant product, by providing a food source for the beneficial microorganisms. For example, without intending to be limiting, the shelf life of the final bio-stimulant product may be in the approximate range of one to two years.
It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that various types of material can be used as a carrier for the bio-stimulant product. Incorporation of the beneficial microorganism in a carrier enables easy handling and long term storage. Furthermore, the carrier can alter the pH of the soil. Soil pH can impact plant growth in several ways. Different microorganisms function best at different pH
ranges. Soil pH may also impact the availability of micronutrients and minerals. By utilizing the appropriate carrier, the bio-stimulant can be customized to achieve an optimal pH growth environment for the targeted plant.
Once the fermentation stage has completed, a carrier, such as water, zeolite, biochar, or diatomaceous earth is added to the aqueous mixture. Oxygen may also be added at this stage to create an aerobic environment, but is not required. Zeolite has an acidic pH and thus may be the carrier of choice when acidic conditions are optimal for plant health and growth. Water, on the other hand, has a neutral pH. Biochar is alkaline and can be used to buffer acidity in soil, when an alkaline environment is optimal for the targeted plant. When zeolite or biochar are chosen as the carrier, a further step of separating the carrier from the aqueous mixture, and then drying the carrier is required.
The applicant has found, in some aspects of the present disclosure, that the selection of an appropriate zeolite and biochar will affect the final characteristics of the bio-stimulant product. Zeolites are alumina silica structures which provide a rigid crystalline network, whereby zeolite particles include pores and therefore have a large surface area compared to other types of crystalline structures. Biochar is a charcoal like product which is extremely porous in nature.
Advantageously, both zeolites and biochar, having a large surface area are able to absorb and/or adsorb microorganisms, including fungal spores, as well as micronutrients, from the aqueous mixture. An additional benefit of zeolites and biochar is that they also absorb and/or adsorb water molecules into their pores and release the water molecules over time, which improves the water retention properties of the soil being treated with the bio-stimulant.

There are many different types of zeolites having different crystalline structures and varying pore sizes, which may make certain zeolites more useful for this application than others zeolites given their particular affinities for certain ionic micronutrients. Furthermore, certain zeolites may further advantageously have certain micronutrients, such as iron, already absorbed into the zeolite structure prior to processing in the methods described herein. Without intending to be limiting, two examples of zeolites that may be appropriate for creating bio-stimulants include chabazite, which contains available iron, and clinoptilolite. Advantageously, both chabazite and clinoptilolite are capable of absorbing or adsorbing microorganisms, micronutrients and/or water molecules. However, it will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that other types of zeolites may also work, depending on the desired characteristics of the final end product of the bio-stimulant or remediation product, and that such types of zeolites are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.
Depending on the particular environment to be remediated, such as a body of water, carriers other than zeolite and biochar, or in addition to zeolite or biochar, may be used in the production of a rennediation product. For example, for remediating a body of water, a carrier which floats or which may .. be suspended in water may be selected. Examples of carriers other than zeolite may include different types of clays, talc powders, charcoals or a combination of any of these carriers.
During this stage of the process, the carrier is combined with the aqueous mixture at a ratio, for example, of approximately one part aqueous mixture, ten parts carrier and ten parts water by volume.
Once the zeolite or biochar has absorbed and/or adsorbed a sufficient amount of beneficial .. microorganisms and micronutrients, the zeolite or biochar may be separated from the aqueous mixture, for example by filtering zeolite or biochar mixture through a sieve or screen.
The recovered zeolite or biochar is then dried so as to remove excess water and obtain the final soil inoculant product. The drying process may occur, for example, in the dark (or in the absence of light in the UV spectrum), with dehumidifiers, for a period of time, which may take up to three days for example. Preferably, the drying process occurs in a temperature controlled environment, for example in the range of 15 C. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other drying procedures may be used and are intended to be included in the present scope of this disclosure. The aqueous mixture that is separated from the zeolite or biochar may optionally be used as a liquid bio-stimulant product, as a certain amount of micronutrients and/or beneficial microorganisms may remain within the aqueous solution.

A consumer may multiply the bio-stimulant product by placing one part bio-stimulant, one part complex carbohydrate, for example, molasses, and 100 parts water into a sealed container for one week, storing the container at substantially 30 C.

10

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of producing a bio-stimulant, the method comprising:
a. preparing an aqueous mixture comprising a starting material including at least one microorganism, at least one starch and water;
b. placing the aqueous mixture in a microorganism growth environment for a first time interval so as to cultivate at least one microorganism;
c. adding at least one sugar to the mixture;
d. placing the mixture in a fermentation environment for a second time interval; and e. adding a carrier to the aqueous mixture for a third time interval.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier is selected from a group comprising: water, zeolite, biochar, diatomaceous earth.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising separating the carrier from the aqueous mixture after the third time interval.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising drying the carrier after separating the carrier from the aqueous mixture.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one microorganism includes a diverse plurality of groups of microorganisms.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the starting material includes humus.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the starting material includes micronutrients.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the diverse plurality of groups of microorganisms includes one or more bacteria and fungus.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one starch is selected from a group comprising: rice, oats, barley, grains, coconut husks, peat, wood chips, corn, brewery waste.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one sugar is selected from a group comprising: cane sugar, brown sugar, molasses, beet sugar.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism growth environment includes a dark environment having a temperature in the range of substantially 5°C to 40°C.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the temperature is substantially 30°C.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the fermentation environment includes a dark environment having a temperature in the range of substantially 5°C to 40°C.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the temperature is substantially 30°C.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the zeolite is selected from a group comprising: chabazite, clinoptilolite.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one microorganism is selected from a group comprising: torulaspora delbruekii, acetobacter indonesiensis, acetobacter orientalis, acetobacter melorum, and sporolactobacillus nakayamea.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the first time interval is selected from a range comprising substantially four days to seven days.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second time interval is selected from a range comprising substantially fourteen to thirty-two days.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the third time interval is substantially 36 hours.

20. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of using the aqueous mixture remaining after the carrier has been separated from the mixture as a liquid bio-stimulant.

21. A bio-stimulant produced by the method of claim 1.

22. A bio-stimulant produced by the method of claim 1 according to any of the preceding claims.

23. A method according to any of the preceding claims taken in combination.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one microorganism is a plurality of microorganisms chosen from said group.

25. A bio-stimulant consisting of torulaspora delbruekii, acetobacter indonesiensis, acetobacter orientalis, acetobacter melorum, and sporolactobacillus nakayamea.

26. A bio-stimulant comprising a plurality of microorganisms chosen from the group comprising:
torulaspora delbruekii, acetobacter indonesiensis, acetobacter orientalis, acetobacter melorum, and sporolactobacillus nakayamea.