Process For Making a Fully Water-Soluble Granule Comprising Humic Acid and a Microbial Community Composition

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for making a fully water-soluble granule comprising humic acid and a microbial community composition. Disclosed also is a fully water-soluble granule comprising humic acid and a microbial community composition. Such a granule is useful as an organic aid to crop growth, particularly in applications where solubility is desirable or necessary.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A homogenous powder comprising:
 a hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder and a microbial community composition powder with a plurality of microbial organisms, wherein the hydrolyzed humic enriched powder and the microbial community composition powder exist at a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:5,   wherein at least 95% of the homogenous powder dissolves within five minutes when the homogenous powder is submerged in one liter of water at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         12 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein the hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder exhibits a moisture content of about 9 to about 15%. 
     
     
         13 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein the hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder exhibits a loose bulk density of about 29 to about 49 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         14 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein the hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder is derived from leonardite. 
     
     
         15 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein at least 99% of the homogenous powder dissolves within 5 minutes when submerged in one liter of water at a temperature of 25 degrees Celcius. 
     
     
         16 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of microbial organisms is selected from at least one of  Acetobacter, Agrobacterium, Aquifex, Arthrobacter, Azoarcus, Azorhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Burkholderia, Chlorobium, Chloroflexus, Chryseobacterium, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Flavobacterium, Flexibacter, Frankia, Gloeobacter, Gluconacetobacter, Halobacterium, Herbaspirillum, Lactobacillus, Leptonema, Mycobacterium, Paenibacillus, Phyllobacterium, Planctomyces, Pseudomonas, Rhizobia, Rhizobium, Rickettsia, Rhodocyclus, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, Synechococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus , or  Trichoderma  genera. 
     
     
         17 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein the microbial community composition powder includes a lyophilized microbial powder. 
     
     
         18 . The homogenous powder of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of microbial organisms includes one or more dormant microbial organisms. 
     
     
         19 . A homogenous powder comprising:
 a hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder and a lyophilized microbial powder with a plurality of microbial organisms, wherein the hydrolyzed humic enriched powder and the lyophilized microbial powder exist at a ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:5,   wherein at least 95% of the homogenous powder dissolves within five minutes when the homogenous powder is submerged in one liter of water at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         20 . The homogenous powder of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder exhibits a moisture content of about 9 to about 15%. 
     
     
         21 . The homogenous powder of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder exhibits a loose bulk density of about 29 to about 49 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         22 . The homogenous powder of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrolyzed humic acid enriched powder is derived from leonardite. 
     
     
         23 . The homogenous powder of  claim 19 , wherein at least 99% of the homogenous powder dissolves within 5 minutes when submerged in one liter of water at a temperature of 25 degrees Celcius. 
     
     
         24 . The homogenous powder of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of microbial organisms is selected from at least one of  Acetobacter, Agrobacterium, Aquifex, Arthrobacter, Azoarcus, Azorhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Burkholderia, Chlorobium, Chloroflexus, Chryseobacterium, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Flavobacterium, Flexibacter, Frankia, Gloeobacter, Gluconacetobacter, Halobacterium, Herbaspirillum, Lactobacillus, Leptonema, Mycobacterium, Paenibacillus, Phyllobacterium, Planctomyces, Pseudomonas, Rhizobia, Rhizobium, Rickettsia, Rhodocyclus, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, Synechococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus , or  Trichoderma  genera. 
     
     
         25 . The homogenous powder of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of microbial organisms are dormant. 
     
     
         26 . The homogenous powder of  claim 25 , wherein the dormant microbial organisms are rehydrated for use. 
     
     
         27 . The homogenous powder of  claim 25 , wherein the dormant microbial organisms are returned to typical metabolic activity upon rehydration. 
     
     
         28 . The homogenous powder of  claim 27 , wherein the dormant microbial organisms are selected from at least one of  Acetobacter, Agrobacterium, Aquifex, Arthrobacter, Azoarcus, Azorhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Burkholderia, Chlorobium, Chloroflexus, Chryseobacterium, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Flavobacterium, Flexibacter, Frankia, Gloeobacter, Gluconacetobacter, Halobacterium, Herbaspirillum, Lactobacillus, Leptonema, Mycobacterium, Paenibacillus, Phyllobacterium, Planctomyces, Pseudomonas, Rhizobia, Rhizobium, Rickettsia, Rhodocyclus, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, Synechococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus , or  Trichoderma  genera.