Nutritional Compositions for Plants and Soils

Abstract

Nutritional compositions for application to plants and soils are disclosed. In various aspects the compositions comprise an autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product from a liquid fraction of poultry manure. The compositions can be produced in a manner that permits their use in organic farming programs. Methods of making the compositions and methods of treating plants and/or soils with the compositions are also disclosed.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of conditioning a selected soil, comprising:
 a) selecting a soil for which conditioning is sought;   b) treating the soil with a liquid composition comprising an autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product from a liquid fraction of poultry manure slurry, the poultry manure slurry comprising at least about 80% by weight moisture content and subjected to an autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction for at least about 1 day, wherein the autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product endogenously comprises at least one living species of plant growth promoting bacteria or fungi and at least one non-living substance that promotes plant growth;   c) measuring at least one parameter of conditioning in the treated soil, and   d) comparing the at least one measured parameter of conditioning in the treated soil with an equivalent measurement in an equivalent soil not treated with the liquid composition, or before treatment with the liquid composition;   
       wherein an improvement in the at least one measured parameter in the treated, as compared with the untreated soil, or with the soil prior to treatment, is indicative of conditioning the selected soil. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one living species of plant growth promoting bacteria comprises  Rhizobium  spp,  Geobaccillus  spp,  Brevibacillus  spp,  Paenibacillus  spp,  Bacillus  spp,  Ureibacillus  spp, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the  Brevibacillus  spp is selected from the group consisting of  Brevibacillus agri, Brevibacillus borsteinensis, Brevibacillus levickii, Brevibacillus thermoruber , and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the  Paenibacillus  spp is selected from the group consisting of  Paenibacillus granivorans, Paenibacillus cookie, Paenibacillus borealis, Paenibacillus popilliae, Paenibacillus chinjuensis , and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the  Geobaccillus  spp is selected from the group consisting of  Geobaccillus stearothermophilus, Geobaccillus thermoleovorans, Geobaccillus thermocaternuiatus, Geobaccillus thermodenitrificans , and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one living species of plant growth promoting bacteria comprises  Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus arnyloliquelaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus azotoformans, Ureibacillus thermosphaericus  or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one non-living substance that promotes plant growth is selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose, beta-gentiobiose, cellobiose, glucose, glucose-1-phosphate, glyceric acid, fructose, fucose, galactose, isomaltose, isoribose, isothreonic acid, lactobionic acid, lyxose, maltose, maltotriose, ribose, sucrose, tagatose, threonic acid, trehalose, UDP-glucuronic acid, xylonic acid, xylonic acid isomer, xylose, xylulose, 1-deoxyerythritol, 1-hexadecanol, 2-deoxyerythritol, deoxypentitol, diglycerol, erythritol, glycerol, hexitol, lyxitol, mannitol, pinitol, threitol, xylitol, indole-3-acetate (IAA), 6-hydroxynicotinic acid, 1-monoolein, 1-monopalmitin, 1-monostearin, 2-monoolein, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, beta-hydroxymyristic acid, beta-sitosterol, capric acid, caprylic acid, cerotinic acid, cholesterol, cis-gondoic acid, Dehydrocholesterol, D-erythro-sphingosine, glycerol-alpha-phosphate, heptadecanoic acid, hexadecylglycerol, isoheptadecanoic acid, lauric acid, lignoceric acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, nonadecanoic acid, octadecanol, oleamide, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, pelargonic acid, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, stearic acid, stigmasterol, valine, aminomalonate, 1,3-diaminopropane, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, 3-aminoisobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid, 5-methoxytryptamine, alanine, alpha-aminoadipic acid, asparagine, aspartic acid, beta-alanine, beta-glutamic acid, citrulline, cyclohexylamine, cysteine, ethanolamine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, glycyl proline, homoserine, hydroxylamine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, maleimide, methionine, methionine sulfoxide, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, n-acetyl-d-hexosamine, N-acetylaspartic acid, N-acetylglutamate, N-acetylputrescine, N-carbamylglutamate, N-methylalanine, N-methylglutamic acid, norvaline, O-acetylserine, oxoproline, phenylalanine, phenylethylamine, putrescine, serine, spermidine, taurine, threonine, thymine, trans-4-hydroxyproline, tryptophan, tyramine, tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoate, catechol, cis-caffeic acid, ferulic acid, hydroquinone, phenol, tyrosol, vanillic acid, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoic acid, 2-hydroxyadipic acid, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, 2-hydroxyhexanoic acid, 2-hydroxyvaleric acid, 2-isopropylmalic acid, 2-ketoadipic acid, 2-methylglyceric acid, 2-picolinic acid, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, 3-hydroxypalmitic acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-phenyllactic acid, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-hydrocinnamic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, 4-hydroxybutyric acid, 4-hydroxymandelic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 4-pyridoxic acid, aconitic acid, adipic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, behenic acid, benzoic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, citric acid, digalacturonic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, gluconic acid lactone, glutaric acid, glycolic acid, hexuronic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, isocitric acid, isohexonic acid, isopentadecanoic acid, kynurenic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, methylmaleic acid, oxalic acid, oxamic acid, phenylacetic acid, pimelic acid, pipecolinic acid, pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, pyruvic acid, quinolinic acid, ribonic acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid, tartaric acid, uric acid, urocanic acid, thymidine, 5,6-dihydrouracil, 7-methylguanine NIST, adenine, adenosine, cytosin, guanine, pseudo uridine, uracil, zymosterol, 1-methylhydantoin, 1,2-cyclohexanedione, 2-deoxypentitol NIST, 2-deoxytetronic acid, 2-ketoisocaproic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybutanoic acid NIST, 2,8-dihydroxyquinoline, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-ureidopropionate, 4-methylcatechol, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid NIST, butane-2,3-diol NIST, butyrolactam NIST, conduritol-beta-epoxide, creatinine, daidzein, glycerol-3-galactoside, hypoxanthine, isothreitol, lanosterol, methanolphosphate, myo-inositol, nicotinic acid, octadecylglycerol, ononitol, parabanic acid NIST, phosphate, piperidone, propane-1,3-diol NIST, pyrogallol, pyrophosphate, tocopherol acetate, tocopherol alpha, tocopherol gamma, urea, xanthine, xanthurenic acid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one parameter of conditioning the soil is selected from the group consisting of soil organic matter, microbial diversity, nutrient profile, bulk density, porosity, water permeation, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product endogenously comprises at least one biostimulant. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the biostimulant is selected from the group consisting of amino acids, bacteria, fungi and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the treating of the selected soil is done as a remediation to damaged or polluted soil. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the treating of the selected soil is done to improve chemical properties of the treated soil. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the treating of the selected soil is done to improve biological properties of the treated soil. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of e) planting plants or crops in the treated soil following treatment. 
     
     
         51 . A method of preventing or reducing nematode infestation on a plant or plant roots, comprising:
 a) providing a plant disposed in soil, wherein the plant comprises plant roots;   b) treating the soil in which the roots are disposed with a liquid composition comprising an autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product from a liquid fraction of poultry manure slurry, the poultry manure slurry comprising at least about 80% by weight moisture content and subjected to an autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction for at least about 1 day, wherein the autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product endogenously comprises at least one living species of plant growth promoting bacteria or fungi and at least one non-living substance that promotes plant growth;   c) measuring at least one parameter of nematode infestation in the treated soil or on the plant roots, and   d) comparing the at least one measured parameter of nematode infestation in the treated soil or on the plant roots with an equivalent measurement in an equivalent soil or plant roots not treated with the liquid composition;   
       wherein an improvement in the at least one measured parameter in the treated, as compared with the untreated soil or plant roots is indicative of preventing or reducing nematode infestation the plant or plant roots. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one measured parameter comprises quantity of nematodes in the treated soil or on the plant roots. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one living species of plant growth promoting bacteria comprises at least one  Bacillus  spp. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one  Bacillus  spp comprises  Bacillus firmus.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one non-living substance that promotes plant growth is selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose, beta-gentiobiose, cellobiose, glucose, glucose-1-phosphate, glyceric acid, fructose, fucose, galactose, isomaltose, isoribose, isothreonic acid, lactobionic acid, lyxose, maltose, maltotriose, ribose, sucrose, tagatose, threonic acid, trehalose, UDP-glucuronic acid, xylonic acid, xylonic acid isomer, xylose, xylulose, 1-deoxyerythritol, 1-hexadecanol, 2-deoxyerythritol, deoxypentitol, diglycerol, erythritol, glycerol, hexitol, lyxitol, mannitol, pinitol, threitol, xylitol, indole-3-acetate (IAA), 6-hydroxynicotinic acid, 1-monoolein, 1-monopalmitin, 1-monostearin, 2-monoolein, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, beta-hydroxymyristic acid, beta-sitosterol, capric acid, caprylic acid, cerotinic acid, cholesterol, cis-gondoic acid, Dehydrocholesterol, D-erythro-sphingosine, glycerol-alpha-phosphate, heptadecanoic acid, hexadecylglycerol, isoheptadecanoic acid, lauric acid, lignoceric acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, nonadecanoic acid, octadecanol, oleamide, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, pelargonic acid, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, stearic acid, stigmasterol, valine, aminomalonate, 1,3-diaminopropane, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, 3-aminoisobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid, 5-methoxytryptamine, alanine, alpha-aminoadipic acid, asparagine, aspartic acid, beta-alanine, beta-glutamic acid, citrulline, cyclohexylamine, cysteine, ethanolamine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, glycyl proline, homoserine, hydroxylamine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, maleimide, methionine, methionine sulfoxide, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, n-acetyl-d-hexosamine, N-acetylaspartic acid, N-acetylglutamate, N-acetylputrescine, N-carbamylglutamate, N-methylalanine, N-methylglutamic acid, norvaline, O-acetylserine, oxoproline, phenylalanine, phenylethylamine, putrescine, serine, spermidine, taurine, threonine, thymine, trans-4-hydroxyproline, tryptophan, tyramine, tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoate, catechol, cis-caffeic acid, ferulic acid, hydroquinone, phenol, tyrosol, vanillic acid, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoic acid, 2-hydroxyadipic acid, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, 2-hydroxyhexanoic acid, 2-hydroxyvaleric acid, 2-isopropylmalic acid, 2-ketoadipic acid, 2-methylglyceric acid, 2-picolinic acid, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, 3-hydroxypalmitic acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-phenyllactic acid, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-hydrocinnamic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, 4-hydroxybutyric acid, 4-hydroxymandelic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 4-pyridoxic acid, aconitic acid, adipic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, behenic acid, benzoic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, citric acid, digalacturonic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, gluconic acid lactone, glutaric acid, glycolic acid, hexuronic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, isocitric acid, isohexonic acid, isopentadecanoic acid, kynurenic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, methylmaleic acid, oxalic acid, oxamic acid, phenylacetic acid, pimelic acid, pipecolinic acid, pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, pyruvic acid, quinolinic acid, ribonic acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid, tartaric acid, uric acid, urocanic acid, thymidine, 5,6-dihydrouracil, 7-methylguanine NIST, adenine, adenosine, cytosin, guanine, pseudo uridine, uracil, zymosterol, 1-methylhydantoin, 1,2-cyclohexanedione, 2-deoxypentitol NIST, 2-deoxytetronic acid, 2-ketoisocaproic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybutanoic acid NIST, 2,8-dihydroxyquinoline, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-ureidopropionate, 4-methylcatechol, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid NIST, butane-2,3-diol NIST, butyrolactam NIST, conduritol-beta-epoxide, creatinine, daidzein, glycerol-3-galactoside, hypoxanthine, isothreitol, lanosterol, methanolphosphate, myo-inositol, nicotinic acid, octadecylglycerol, ononitol, parabanic acid NIST, phosphate, piperidone, propane-1,3-diol NIST, pyrogallol, pyrophosphate, tocopherol acetate, tocopherol alpha, tocopherol gamma, urea, xanthine, xanthurenic acid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction product endogenously comprises at least one biostimulant.