Fertilization

Example 2

A. Seed Treatment with Isolated Microbe

In this example, an isolated microbe from Tables 1-3 will be applied as a seed coating to seeds of corn (Zea mays). Upon applying the isolated microbe as a seed coating, the corn will be planted and cultivated in the standard manner.

A control plot of corn seeds, which did not have the isolated microbe applied as a seed coating, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the seed coating will exhibit a quantifiably higher biomass than the control corn plants.

The biomass from the treated plants may be about 1-10% higher, 10-20% higher, 20-30% higher, 30-40% higher, 40-50% higher, 50-60% higher, 60-70% higher, 70-80% higher, 80-90% higher, or more.

The biomass from the treated plants may equate to about a 1 bushel per acre increase over the controls, or a 2 bushel per acre increase, or a 3 bushel per acre increase, or a 4 bushel per acre increase, or a 5 bushel per acre increase, or more.

In some aspects, the biomass increase is statistically significant. In other aspects, the biomass increase is not statistically significant, but is still quantifiable.

B. Seed Treatment with Microbial Consortia

In this example, a microbial consortium, comprising at least two microbes from Tables 1-3 will be applied as a seed coating to seeds of corn (Zea mays). Upon applying the microbial consortium as a seed coating, the corn will be planted and cultivated in the standard manner.

A control plot of corn seeds, which did not have the microbial consortium applied as a seed coating, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the seed coating will exhibit a quantifiably higher biomass than the control corn plants.

The biomass from the treated plants may be about 1-10% higher, 10-20% higher, 20-30% higher, 30-40% higher, 40-50% higher, 50-60% higher, 60-70% higher, 70-80% higher, 80-90% higher, or more.

The biomass from the treated plants may equate to about a 1 bushel per acre increase over the controls, or a 2 bushel per acre increase, or a 3 bushel per acre increase, or a 4 bushel per acre increase, or a 5 bushel per acre increase, or more.

In some aspects, the biomass increase is statistically significant. In other aspects, the biomass increase is not statistically significant, but is still quantifiable.

C. Treatment with Agricultural Composition Comprising Isolated Microbe

In this example, an isolated microbe from Tables 1-3 will be applied as an agricultural composition, administered to the corn seed at the time of sowing.

For example, it is anticipated that a farmer will apply the agricultural composition to the corn seeds simultaneously upon planting the seeds into the field. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying the agricultural composition to a hopper/bulk tank on a standard 16 row planter, which contains the corn seeds and which is configured to plant the same into rows. Alternatively, the agricultural composition can be contained in a separate bulk tank on the planter and sprayed into the rows upon planting the corn seed.

A control plot of corn seeds, which are not administered the agricultural composition, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the agricultural composition will exhibit a quantifiably higher biomass than the control corn plants.

The biomass from the treated plants may be about 1-10% higher, 10-20% higher, 20-30% higher, 30-40% higher, 40-50% higher, 50-60% higher, 60-70% higher, 70-80% higher, 80-90% higher, or more.

The biomass from the treated plants may equate to about a 1 bushel per acre increase over the controls, or a 2 bushel per acre increase, or a 3 bushel per acre increase, or a 4 bushel per acre increase, or a 5 bushel per acre increase, or more.

In some aspects, the biomass increase is statistically significant. In other aspects, the biomass increase is not statistically significant, but is still quantifiable.

D. Treatment with Agricultural Composition Comprising Microbial Consortia

In this example, a microbial consortium, comprising at least two microbes from Tables 1-3 will be applied as an agricultural composition, administered to the corn seed at the time of sowing.

For example, it is anticipated that a farmer will apply the agricultural composition to the corn seeds simultaneously upon planting the seeds into the field. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying the agricultural composition to a hopper/bulk tank on a standard 16 row planter, which contains the corn seeds and which is configured to plant the same into rows. Alternatively, the agricultural composition can be contained in a separate bulk tank on the planter and sprayed into the rows upon planting the corn seed.

A control plot of corn seeds, which are not administered the agricultural composition, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the agricultural composition will exhibit a quantifiably higher biomass than the control corn plants.

The biomass from the treated plants may be about 1-10% higher, 10-20% higher, 20-30% higher, 30-40% higher, 40-50% higher, 50-60% higher, 60-70% higher, 70-80% higher, 80-90% higher, or more.

The biomass from the treated plants may equate to about a 1 bushel per acre increase over the controls, or a 2 bushel per acre increase, or a 3 bushel per acre increase, or a 4 bushel per acre increase, or a 5 bushel per acre increase, or more.

In some aspects, the biomass increase is statistically significant. In other aspects, the biomass increase is not statistically significant, but is still quantifiable.

A. Seed Treatment with Isolated Microbe

In this example, an isolated microbe from Tables 1-3 will be applied as a seed coating to seeds of corn (Zea mays). Upon applying the isolated microbe as a seed coating, the corn will be planted and cultivated in the standard manner.

A control plot of corn seeds, which did not have the isolated microbe applied as a seed coating, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the seed coating will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to tolerate drought conditions and/or exhibit superior water use efficiency, as compared to the control corn plants.

The drought tolerance and/or water use efficiency can be based on any number of standard tests from the art, e.g leaf water retention, turgor loss point, rate of photosynthesis, leaf color and other phenotypic indications of drought stress, yield performance, and various root morphological and growth patterns.

B. Seed Treatment with Microbial Consortia

In this example, a microbial consortium, comprising at least two microbes from Tables 1-3 will be applied as a seed coating to seeds of corn (Zea mays). Upon applying the microbial consortium as a seed coating, the corn will be planted and cultivated in the standard manner.

A control plot of corn seeds, which did not have the microbial consortium applied as a seed coating, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the seed coating will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to tolerate drought conditions and/or exhibit superior water use efficiency, as compared to the control corn plants.

The drought tolerance and/or water use efficiency can be based on any number of standard tests from the art, e.g leaf water retention, turgor loss point, rate of photosynthesis, leaf color and other phenotypic indications of drought stress, yield performance, and various root morphological and growth patterns.

C. Treatment with Agricultural Composition Comprising Isolated Microbe

In this example, an isolated microbe from Tables 1-3 will be applied as an agricultural composition, administered to the corn seed at the time of sowing.

For example, it is anticipated that a farmer will apply the agricultural composition to the corn seeds simultaneously upon planting the seeds into the field. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying the agricultural composition to a hopper/bulk tank on a standard 16 row planter, which contains the corn seeds and which is configured to plant the same into rows. Alternatively, the agricultural composition can be contained in a separate bulk tank on the planter and sprayed into the rows upon planting the corn seed.

A control plot of corn seeds, which are not administered the agricultural composition, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the with the agricultural composition will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to tolerate drought conditions and/or exhibit superior water use efficiency, as compared to the control corn plants.

The drought tolerance and/or water use efficiency can be based on any number of standard tests from the art, e.g leaf water retention, turgor loss point, rate of photosynthesis, leaf color and other phenotypic indications of drought stress, yield performance, and various root morphological and growth patterns.

D. Treatment with Agricultural Composition Comprising Microbial Consortia

In this example, a microbial consortium, comprising at least two microbes from Tables 1-3 will be applied as an agricultural composition, administered to the corn seed at the time of sowing.

For example, it is anticipated that a farmer will apply the agricultural composition to the corn seeds simultaneously upon planting the seeds into the field. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying the agricultural composition to a hopper/bulk tank on a standard 16 row planter, which contains the corn seeds and which is configured to plant the same into rows. Alternatively, the agricultural composition can be contained in a separate bulk tank on the planter and sprayed into the rows upon planting the corn seed.

A control plot of corn seeds, which are not administered the agricultural composition, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the with the agricultural composition will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to tolerate drought conditions and/or exhibit superior water use efficiency, as compared to the control corn plants.

The drought tolerance and/or water use efficiency can be based on any number of standard tests from the art, e.g leaf water retention, turgor loss point, rate of photosynthesis, leaf color and other phenotypic indications of drought stress, yield performance, and various root morphological and growth patterns.

A. Seed Treatment with Isolated Microbe

In this example, an isolated microbe from Tables 1-3 will be applied as a seed coating to seeds of corn (Zea mays). Upon applying the isolated microbe as a seed coating, the corn will be planted and cultivated in the standard manner.

A control plot of corn seeds, which did not have the isolated microbe applied as a seed coating, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the seed coating will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to utilize nitrogen, as compared to the control corn plants.

The nitrogen use efficiency can be quantified by recording a measurable change in any of the main nitrogen metabolic pool sizes in the assimilation pathways (e.g., a measurable change in one or more of the following: nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, threonine, methionine, glycine, tryptophan, tyrosine, total protein content of a plant part, total nitrogen content of a plant part, and/or chlorophyll content), or where the treated plant is shown to provide the same or elevated biomass or harvestable yield at lower nitrogen fertilization levels compared to the control plant, or where the treated plant is shown to provide elevated biomass or harvestable yields at the same nitrogen fertilization levels compared to a control plant.

B. Seed Treatment with Microbial Consortia

In this example, a microbial consortium, comprising at least two microbes from Tables 1-3 will be applied as a seed coating to seeds of corn (Zea mays). Upon applying the microbial consortium as a seed coating, the corn will be planted and cultivated in the standard manner.

A control plot of corn seeds, which did not have the microbial consortium applied as a seed coating, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the seed coating will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to utilize nitrogen, as compared to the control corn plants.

The nitrogen use efficiency can be quantified by recording a measurable change in any of the main nitrogen metabolic pool sizes in the assimilation pathways (e.g., a measurable change in one or more of the following: nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, threonine, methionine, glycine, tryptophan, tyrosine, total protein content of a plant part, total nitrogen content of a plant part, and/or chlorophyll content), or where the treated plant is shown to provide the same or elevated biomass or harvestable yield at lower nitrogen fertilization levels compared to the control plant, or where the treated plant is shown to provide elevated biomass or harvestable yields at the same nitrogen fertilization levels compared to a control plant.

C. Treatment with Agricultural Composition Comprising Isolated Microbe

In this example, an isolated microbe from Tables 1-3 will be applied as an agricultural composition, administered to the corn seed at the time of sowing.

For example, it is anticipated that a farmer will apply the agricultural composition to the corn seeds simultaneously upon planting the seeds into the field. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying the agricultural composition to a hopper/bulk tank on a standard 16 row planter, which contains the corn seeds and which is configured to plant the same into rows. Alternatively, the agricultural composition can be contained in a separate bulk tank on the planter and sprayed into the rows upon planting the corn seed.

A control plot of corn seeds, which are not administered the agricultural composition, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the agricultural composition will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to utilize nitrogen, as compared to the control corn plants.

The nitrogen use efficiency can be quantified by recording a measurable change in any of the main nitrogen metabolic pool sizes in the assimilation pathways (e.g., a measurable change in one or more of the following: nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, threonine, methionine, glycine, tryptophan, tyrosine, total protein content of a plant part, total nitrogen content of a plant part, and/or chlorophyll content), or where the treated plant is shown to provide the same or elevated biomass or harvestable yield at lower nitrogen fertilization levels compared to the control plant, or where the treated plant is shown to provide elevated biomass or harvestable yields at the same nitrogen fertilization levels compared to a control plant.

D. Treatment with Agricultural Composition Comprising Microbial Consortia

In this example, a microbial consortium, comprising at least two microbes from Tables 1-3 will be applied as an agricultural composition, administered to the corn seed at the time of sowing.

For example, it is anticipated that a farmer will apply the agricultural composition to the corn seeds simultaneously upon planting the seeds into the field. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying the agricultural composition to a hopper/bulk tank on a standard 16 row planter, which contains the corn seeds and which is configured to plant the same into rows. Alternatively, the agricultural composition can be contained in a separate bulk tank on the planter and sprayed into the rows upon planting the corn seed.

A control plot of corn seeds, which are not administered the agricultural composition, will also be planted.

It is expected that the corn plants grown from the seeds treated with the agricultural composition will exhibit a quantifiable and superior ability to utilize nitrogen, as compared to the control corn plants.

The nitrogen use efficiency can be quantified by recording a measurable change in any of the main nitrogen metabolic pool sizes in the assimilation pathways (e.g., a measurable change in one or more of the following: nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, threonine, methionine, glycine, tryptophan, tyrosine, total protein content of a plant part, total nitrogen content of a plant part, and/or chlorophyll content), or where the treated plant is shown to provide the same or elevated biomass or harvestable yield at lower nitrogen fertilization levels compared to the control plant, or where the treated plant is shown to provide elevated biomass or harvestable yields at the same nitrogen fertilization levels compared to a control plant.

The inoculants were prepared from isolates grown as spread plates on R2A incubated at 25° C. for 48 to 72 hours. Colonies were harvested by blending with sterile distilled water (SDW) which was then transferred into sterile containers. Serial dilutions of the harvested cells were plated and incubated at 25° C. for 24 hours to estimate the number of colony forming units (CFU) in each suspension. Dilutions were prepared using individual isolates or blends of isolates (consortia) to deliver 1×10⁵ cfu/microbe/seed and seeds inoculated by either imbibition in the liquid suspension or by overtreatment with 5% vegetable gum and oil.

Seeds corresponding to the plants of table 15 were planted within 24 to 48 hours of treatment in agricultural soil, potting media or inert growing media. Plants were grown in small pots (28 mL to 200 mL) in either a controlled environment or in a greenhouse. Chamber photoperiod was set to 16 hours for all experiments on all species. Air temperature was typically maintained between 22-24° C.

Unless otherwise stated, all plants were watered with tap water 2 to 3 times weekly. Growth conditions were varied according to the trait of interest and included manipulation of applied fertilizer, watering regime and salt stress as follows:

• • Low N—seeds planted in soil potting media or inert growing media with no applied N fertilizer
  • Moderate N—seeds planted in soil or growing media supplemented with commercial N fertilizer to equivalent of 135 kg/ha applied N
  • Insol P—seeds planted in potting media or inert growth substrate and watered with quarter strength Pikovskaya's liquid medium containing tri-calcium phosphate as the only form phosphate fertilizer.
  • Cold Stress—seeds planted in soil, potting media or inert growing media and incubated at 10° C. for one week before being transferred to the plant growth room.
  • Salt stress—seeds planted in soil, potting media or inert growing media and watered with a solution containing between 100 to 200 mg/L NaCl.

Untreated (no applied microbe) controls were prepared for each experiment. Plants were randomized on trays throughout the growth environment. Between 10 and 30 replicate plants were prepared for each treatment in each experiment. Phenotypes were measured during early vegetative growth, typically before the V3 developmental stage and between 3 and 6 weeks after sowing. Foliage was cut and weighed. Roots were washed, blotted dry and weighed. Results indicate performance of treatments against the untreated control.

The data presented in table 15 describes the efficacy with which a microbial species or strain can change a phenotype of interest relative to a control run in the same experiment. Phenotypes measured were shoot fresh weight and root fresh weight for plants growing either in the absence of presence of a stress (assay). For each microbe species, an overall efficacy score indicates the percentage of times a strain of that species increased a both shoot and root fresh weight in independent evaluations. For each species, the specifics of each independent assay is given, providing a strain ID (strain) and the crop species the assay was performed on (crop). For each independent assay the percentage increase in shoot and root fresh weight over the controls is given.

Example 3

Two samples of catalysts have been prepared, one by co-precipitation (CP) and the other one by deposition impregnation (DI). H₂-TPD was performed at 5.0 MPa (FIG. 6) resulting in a temperature of around 313 K for the material prepared by DI versus 293 K for the material prepared by CP.

Example 24

The catalyst included 1 wt % of Pt and 3 wt % of Sn supported on CeO₂, based on the weight of the CeO₂. The CeO₂ support was made by calcining cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate (Sigma-Aldrich 202991). The catalyst was made by incipient wetness impregnation of 3 g of CeO₂ with 0.788 g of 8 wt % chloroplatinic acid in water (Sigma Aldrich, 262587) and 0.266 g of tin (IV) chloride pentahydrate (Acros Organics 22369), followed by drying and calcination at 800° C. for 12 h.

The data in Table 9 shows that catalyst 2 was stable over 42 cycles.