Soil remediation through beneficial microbes

Abstract

A method and composition are provided for soil remediation. A method is provided for breaking down an organic chemical agent, comprising providing a plurality of sporulated microbes to the chemical agent. A composition is provided for breaking down an organic chemical agent, comprising a plurality of sporulated microbes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for breaking down an organic chemical agent, comprising providing a plurality of sporulated microbes to the chemical agent, the sporulated microbes having a microbe efficacy, and the chemical agent having a chemical agent efficacy. 
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the chemical agent comprises at least one of:
 an agricultural agent;   a petroleum agent;   an industrial site agent; and   a metabolite of the chemical agent.   
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the chemical agent comprises at least one of a herbicide, an insecticide, and a fungicide. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the chemical agent comprises at least one of:
 glyphosate;   dicamba;   2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid;   Atrazine;   fomesafen;   triazine;   sulfonylurea;   imidacloprid;   clothianidin; and   thiamethoxam.   
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of sporulated microbes to the chemical agent comprises providing a mixture of the sporulated microbes and the chemical agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 5 , further wherein the mixture retains the microbe efficacy and the chemical agent efficacy. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises distribution on at least one of:
 a plurality of plants after the plurality of plants has been treated with an application of the organic chemical agent;   a soil that has been treated with an application of the organic chemical agent;   a soil that contains the organic chemical agent;   a sidewalk;   a park;   a residential lawn;   a residential driveway;   a sports field;   a golf course; and   a. a water source.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises at least one of:
 a pellet;   a powder;   a liquid; and   granules.   
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises providing a concentration of sporulated microbes sufficient to break down the chemical agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises providing a concentration sufficient to reduce an active form of the chemical agent in a plant food product. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 9 , wherein providing a concentration comprises providing a concentration that allows planting a crop after a set time without risk of an injury to the crop. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises a concentration of sporulated microbes based on at least one of:
 an amount of the chemical agent;   a type of chemical agent; and   a soil type.   
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises a solution with a concentration of sporulated microbes at least 1×10 11  CFU/Gallon. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises a solution with a pH lower than 8.5. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the sporulated microbes comprise gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria that metabolize a carbon bond or a covalent bond. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the sporulated microbes comprise motile bacteria that metabolize a carbon or a covalent bond. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the sporulated microbes comprise  Bacillus  bacteria that metabolize a carbon or a covalent bond. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein the sporulated microbes comprise at least two of:
 a.  Bacillus licheniformis;      b.  Bacillus coagulans;      c.  Bacillus subtilis;      d.  Bacillus pumilus;      e.  Bacillus megaterium ; and   f.  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.      
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 15 , further wherein the sporulated microbes comprise cellulose and lignan composting bacteria, for breaking down at least one of crop waste and weed waste. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of sporulated microbes further comprises providing at least one of a nutrient, an extract, a seaweed, or a sugar as a food source for the microbes. 
     
     
         21 . A composition for breaking down an organic chemical agent, comprising a plurality of sporulated microbes. 
     
     
         22 . The composition as in  claim 21 , further comprising the organic chemical agent. 
     
     
         23 . The composition as in  claim 21 , wherein the sporulated microbes comprise a solution with a density of at least 1×10 11  CFU/Gallon. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sporulated microbes comprises at least two of:
 a.  Bacillus licheniformis;      b.  Bacillus coagulans;      c.  Bacillus subtilis;      d.  Bacillus pumilus;      e.  Bacillus megaterium ; and   f.  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.      
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 21 , further comprising cellulose and lignan composting bacteria, for breaking down at least one of a crop waste and a weed waste. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one of a nutrient, an extract, or a sugar as a food source for the microbes.