Biological fertilizer based on yeasts

Abstract

The present invention provides biological fertilizer compositions that comprise yeast cells that have an enhanced ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, decompose phosphorus minerals and compounds, decompose potassium minerals and compounds, decompose complex carbon compounds, over produce growth factors, and over produce ATP. The biological fertilizer composition of the invention can replace mineral fertilizers in supplying nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to crop plants. Methods of manufacturing the biological fertilizer compositions and methods of uses are also encompassed.

1 . A biological fertilizer composition comprising at least one of the following yeast cell components: 
 (a) a first yeast cell component comprising a first plurality of yeast cells that fix nitrogen;    (b) a second yeast cell component comprising a second plurality of yeast cells that decompose phosphorus compounds; or    (c) a third yeast cell component comprising a third plurality of yeast cells that decompose potassium compounds.    
     
     
         2 . The biological composition of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (d) a fourth yeast cell component comprising a fourth plurality of yeast cells that convert complex carbon compounds to simple carbohydrates;    (e) a fifth yeast cell component comprising a fifth plurality of yeast cells that overproduce growth factors; and    (f) a sixth yeast cell component comprising a sixth plurality of yeast cells that overproduce adenosine triphosphate.    
     
     
         3 . A biological fertilizer composition comprising at least one of the following yeast cell components: 
 (a) a first yeast cell component prepared by culturing a first plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 860 to 870 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said first plurality of yeast cells to fix nitrogen;    (b) a second yeast cell component prepared by culturing a second plurality of yeast cells in a second electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 360 to 370 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said second plurality of yeast cells to decompose phosphorus compounds; or    (c) a third yeast cell component prepared by culturing a third plurality of yeast cells in a third electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 250 to 260 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said third plurality of yeast cells to decompose potassium compounds.    
     
     
         4 . The biological composition of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 (d) a fourth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a fourth plurality of yeast cells in a fourth electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1087 to 1097 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said fourth plurality of yeast cells to convert complex carbon molecules to simple carbohydrates;    (e) a fifth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a fifth plurality of yeast cells in a fifth electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1382 to 1392 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said fifth plurality of yeast cells to overproduce growth factors; and    (f) a sixth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a sixth plurality of yeast cells in a sixth electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1690 to 1700 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to overproduce adenosine triphosphate.    
     
     
         5 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 2  or  4  further comprising an organic substrate component, an inorganic substrate component, or both organic and inorganic substrate components.  
     
     
         6 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 2  or  4  wherein each yeast cell component separately comprises yeast cells that belongs to a genus selected from the group consisting of  Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Sporobolomyces, Torulopsis, Trichosporon, Wickerhamia, Ashbya, Blastomyces, Candida, Citeromyces, Crebrothecium, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Endomycopsis; Geotrichum, Hansenula, Kloeckera, Lipomyces, Pichia, Rhodosporidium,  and  Rhodotorula.    
     
     
         7 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 2  or  4  wherein each yeast cell component comprises cells of a species of yeast selected from the group consisting of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces chevalieri, Saccharomyces delbrueckii, Saccharomyces exiguus, Saccharomyces fermentati, Saccharomyces logos, Saccharomyces mellis, Saccharomyces microellipsoides, Saccharomyces oviformis, Saccharomyces rosei, Saccharomyces rouxii, Saccharomyces sake, Saccharomyces uvarum  Beijer,  Saccharomyces willianus, Saccharomyces  sp.,  Saccharomyces ludwigii, Saccharomyces sinenses, Saccharomyces bailii, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Schizosaccharomyces octosporus, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Sporobolomyces roseus, Sporobolomyces salmonicolor, Torulopsis candida, Torulopsis famta, Torulopsis globosa, Torulopsis inconspicua, Trichosporon behrendoo, Trichosporon capitatum, Trichosporon cutaneum, Wickerhamia fluoresens, Ashbya gossypii, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida arborea, Candida guillermondii, Candida Krusei, Candida lambica, Candida lipolytica, Candida parakrusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida pulcherrima, Candida robusta, Candida rugousa, Candida utilis, Citeromyces matritensis, Crebrothecium ashbyii, Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus neoformans, Debaryomyces hansenii, Debaryomyces kloeckeri, Endomycopsis fibuligera, Eremothecium ashbyii, Geotrichum candidum, Geotrichum ludwigii, Geotrichum robustum, Geotrichum suaveolens, Hansenula anomala, Hansenula arabitolgens, Hansenula jadinii, Hansenula saturnus, Hansenula schneggii, Hansenula subpelliculosa, Kloeckera apiculata, Lipomyces starkeyi, Pichia farinosa, Pichia membranaefaciens, Rhodosporidium toruloides, Rhodotorula aurantiaca, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodotorula minuta, Rhodotorula rubar,  and  Rhodotorula sinesis.    
     
     
         8 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 2  or  4  wherein each yeast cell component comprises cells of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         9 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 2  or  4  wherein the yeast cells of each yeast cell component are separately cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen deposited at China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center having an accession number selected from the group consisting of AS2.501, AS2.535, AS2.441, AS2.406, AS2.382, and AS2.16.  
     
     
         10 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 2  which comprises yeast cell components (a), (b), and (c) of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 4  which comprises yeast cell components (a), (b), and (c) of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         12 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 10  or  11  further comprising an organic substrate component, an inorganic substrate component, or both an organic and an inorganic substrate component.  
     
     
         13 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 12  which comprises about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of yeast cell component (a), about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of yeast cell component (b), about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of yeast cell component (c), about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of yeast cell component (d), about 1% by weight of yeast cell component (e), about 3% by weight of yeast cell component (f); about 65% by weight of organic substrate component; about 19% by weight of inorganic substrate component; and about 14% by weight of starch.  
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A biological fertilizer composition comprising 
 (i) at least one of the following yeast cell components: 
 (a) a first yeast cell component prepared by culturing a first plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 865.522 MHz and an amplitude of about 1250 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said first plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 865.522 MHz and an amplitude of about 4656 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said first plurality of yeast cells can fix nitrogen;  
 (b) a second yeast cell component prepared by culturing a second plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 366.243 MHz and an amplitude of about 1230 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said second plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 366.243 MHz and an amplitude of about 4570 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said second plurality of yeast cells can decompose phosphorus compounds; or  
 (c) a third yeast cell component prepared by culturing a third plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 255.425 MHz and an amplitude of about 1340 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said third plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 255.425 MHz and an amplitude of about 4850 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said plurality of yeast cells can decompose potassium compounds;  
   (ii) a fourth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a fourth plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1092.387 MHz and an amplitude of about 1530 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said fourth plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1092.387 MHz and an amplitude of about 4720 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said fourth plurality of yeast cells can convert complex carbon molecules to simple carbohydrates;    (iii) a fifth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a fifth plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1387.556 MHz and an amplitude of about 1620 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said fifth plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1387.556 MHz and an amplitude of about 4830 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said fifth plurality of yeast cells can overproduce growth factors; and    (iv) a sixth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a sixth plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1694.365 MHz and an amplitude of about 1470 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said sixth plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1694.365 MHz and an amplitude of about 4780 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said plurality of yeast cells can overproduce adenosine triphosphate;    wherein said yeast cell components comprise cells of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.      
     
     
         22 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 21  wherein the first yeast cell component comprises cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen AS2.501, the second yeast cell component comprises cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen AS2.535, the third yeast cell component comprises cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen AS2.441, the fourth yeast cell component comprises cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen AS2.406, the fifth yeast cell component comprises cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen AS2.382, and the sixth yeast cell component comprises cells of the yeast strain  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  Hansen AS2.16.  
     
     
         23 . The biological fertilizer composition of  claim 21 , wherein the pluralities of yeast cells are dried.  
     
     
         24 . A method of activating or enhancing the ability of a plurality of yeast cells to fix atmospheric nitrogen, comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 850 to 860 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to fix nitrogen.  
     
     
         25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A method of activating or enhancing the ability of a plurality of yeast cells to decompose phosphorus-containing minerals or compounds, comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 360 to 370 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to decompose phosphorus compounds.  
     
     
         27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . A method of activating or enhancing the ability of a plurality of yeast cells to decompose potassium-containing minerals or compounds, comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 250 to 260 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to decompose potassium compounds.  
     
     
         29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . A method of activating or enhancing the ability of a plurality of yeast cells to decompose high molecular weight carbon substances, comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1087 to 1097 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to convert complex carbon molecules to simple carbohydrates.  
     
     
         31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . A method of activating or enhancing the ability of a plurality of yeast cells to overproduce growth factors, comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1382 to 1392 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 2000 mV for a period of between 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to overproduce growth factors.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1387.556 and an amplitude of about 1620 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said fifth plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1387.556 MHz and an amplitude of about 4830 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said fifth plurality of yeast cells can overproduce growth factors.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  or  33 , further comprising inoculating a fermentation medium comprising a starch solution at a concentration of about 400 gram/liter with said yeast cells and allowing fermentation to proceed at a temperature between 20 to 30° C. until at least 90% of the fermentation substrate has been fermented.  
     
     
         35 . A method of activating the ability of a plurality of yeast cells to overproduce ATP, comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1690 to 1700 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to overproduce adenosine triphosphate.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising culturing said plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a first electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1694.365 MHz and an amplitude of about 1470 mV for a period of 24 hours and culturing said sixth plurality of yeast cells in the presence of a second electromagnetic field having a frequency of about 1694.365 MHz and an amplitude of about 4780 mV for a period of 24 hours so that said plurality of yeast cells can overproduce adenosine triphosphate.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  or  36 , further comprising inoculating a fermentation medium comprising a starch solution at a concentration of about 400 gram/liter with said yeast cells and allowing fermentation to proceed at a temperature between 20 to 30° C. until at least 90% of the fermentation substrate has been fermented.  
     
     
         38 . A method of forming a symbiosis-like relationship among yeast cells components of a biological fertilzer, said method comprises the steps of: 
 preparing a mixture comprising    (a) a first yeast cell component prepared by culturing a first plurality of yeast cells in a first electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 860 to 870 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said first plurality of yeast cells to fix nitrogen;    (b) a second yeast cell component prepared by culturing a second plurality of yeast cells in a second electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 360 to 370 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said second plurality of yeast cells to decompose phosphorus compounds;    (c) a third yeast cell component prepared by culturing a third plurality of yeast cells in a third electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 250 to 260 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said third plurality of yeast cells to decompose potassium compounds; and    (d) a fourth yeast cell component prepared by culturing a fourth plurality of yeast cells in a fourth electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1087 to 1097 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said fourth plurality of yeast cells to convert complex carbon molecules to simple carbohydrates; and    culturing said mixture in the presence of an electromagnetic field having a plurality of frequencies of 860 to 870 MHz, 360 to370 MHz, 250 to 260 MHz, and 1087 to 1097 MHz and each frequency having an amplitude of 0 to 3000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said yeast cell components to form symbiosis-like relationship, wherein the amplitude for each frequency in said electromagnetic field is cycled between 0 to 3000 mV.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 preparing a mixture comprising said plurality of yeast cells and soil;    culturing said mixture in an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 850 to 860 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to adapt to soil.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 preparing a mixture comprising said plurality of yeast cells and soil;    culturing said mixture in an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 360 to 370 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to adapt to soil.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 preparing a mixture comprising said plurality of yeast cells and soil;    culturing said mixture in an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 250 to 260 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to adapt to soil.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 preparing a mixture comprising said plurality of yeast cells and soil;    culturing said mixture in an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1087 to 1097 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to adapt to soil.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 preparing a mixture comprising said plurality of yeast cells and soil;    culturing said mixture in an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1382 to 1392 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to adapt to soil.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 preparing a mixture comprising said plurality of yeast cells and soil;    culturing said mixture in an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 1690 to 1700 MHz and an amplitude in the range of 1000 to 5000 mV for a period of time sufficient to cause said plurality of yeast cells to adapt to soil.    
     
     
         45 - 50 . (canceled)  
     
     
         51 . A method for enhancing plant growth comprising growing the plant in the presence of a biological fertilizer composition of any one of the claims  1 - 13  and  21 - 23 .