Short Description of technology – General

Innovative technologies include enhanced fertilizers, microbial addition, soil additives, and decision support systems to enhance Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and reduce emissions. The enhanced nitrogen fertilizers utilize urease/nitrification inhibitors to reduce ammonia (NH₃) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and higher production yield rates. Soil structure and NUE benefits by adding Humic acids as results in decreasing both fertilizer consumption and GHGs emissions. The microbial solution combines Bacillus velezensis SQR9 with PGPR strain characteristics to reduce N₂O through enzymatic breakdown alongside straw enzymatic hydrolysate combined with Trichoderma for improved soil health and nutrient retention. Soil additives which include microbial agents and diatomaceous earth enable quick straw decomposition and minimize emissions and boost crop quality. This innovative system evaluates organic water-soluble fertilizer usage by generating precise recommendations from a nutrient library to maintain an appropriate nitrogen feed.  combine these technologies promote sustainable agriculture by minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource efficiency.

 

1. Enhanced nitrogen fertilizer with urease, nitrification inhibitor

 

Short Description of the Technology

Agricultural ammonia emission reduction technology based on innovative fertilizer is to optimize and improve urea fertilizer products by adding additives such as urease inhibitors, nitrification inhibitors to urea products, so as to achieve synergistic emission reduction effect of ammonia (NH₃) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) in farmland, and improve crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency at the same time. To evaluate the effect of synergistic nitrogen fertilizer such as innovative fertilizer on the synergistic reduction of ammonia and nitrous oxide and the increase of nitrogen efficiency and income.

Six different innovative fertilizers and additives for improving NUE are described subsequently. These innovative fertilizers and additives include Humic acid that helps reducing GHGs emissions and improving NUE,

 

Innovative Features

The effect of farmland ammonia emission reduction technology at regional scale is not stable, and the relationship between ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in farmland is comprehensively evaluated to further optimize the technical details and implementation plan.

 

Type of Contribution

The use of innovative fertilizer products (enhanced nitrogen fertilizer with urease, nitrification inhibitor) instead of traditional urea fertilizer to provide nitrogen nutrients for crops, can also promote the growth of crop roots, so that can ensure or even improve crop yield, and greatly reduce the ammonia (NH₃) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions generated by traditional nitrogen fertilizer application. It can effectively solve the problem of excessive ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural field.

 

Benefits for farmers, the industry, and the environment

The main goal of the innovative fertilizer is to inhibit the conversion of nitrogen into greenhouse gases such as ammonia and nitrous oxide through urease inhibitors and nitrification inhibitors, thereby inhibiting the environmental impact of nitrogen fertilizer application. In addition, the economic sustainability of growers is supported by optimizing fertilizer products to improve crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency. The rational use of nitrogen fertilizer will also save energy in the fertilizer industry, thus helping to reduce ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

2. Humic acid as additive

 

Short Description of the Technology

This technology is dedicated to developing new fertilizers and additives that can significantly enhance Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE). Currently, the overuse of chemical fertilizers has led to numerous issues, including soil compaction, secondary salinization, diminished agricultural product quality and excessive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Humic acid can enhance the utilization rate of nitrogen and phosphorus, improve soil structure and reduce the amount of fertilizer used and GHG volatilization while ensuring crop yield. Stanley agriculture group uses humic acid as the main synergistic substance, compounded with other nitrogen and phosphorus synergists, to upgrade the functions of compound fertilizers and water-soluble fertilizers, and develops a variety of humic acid-containing synergistic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer products. These products are suitable for a variety of field crops and cash crops. These fertilizers not only ensure stable crop yields but also reduce the need for nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, improve NUE, and decrease GHG emissions associated with farmland fertilization.

 

Innovative Features

Due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers, many problems are currently occurring. These problems include soil compaction in agricultural fields, secondary salinization, reduced agricultural product quality and excessive GHG emissions. Humic acid can improve the utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus, reduce fertilizer input while ensuring crop yield and reduce GHG volatilization. There is an urgent need for fertilizer products and additives that can reduce fertilizer application, increase nitrogen and phosphorus utilization, improve quality and yield and reduce GHG volatilization in agricultural production. Firstly, we collected a variety of domestic synergistic additives and evaluated the raw materials using chemical analysis methods, and found that humic acid has a good effect on crop growth, and the larger the E4/E6 value, the better the stability of compounding with fertilizers and other raw materials. Based on the soil test, we combine the local crop cultivation system, soil properties and climate conditions to add nitrogen and phosphorus synergists, and choose the chemical materials suitable for high – tower, drum and blending processes to carry out the development of synergistic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. Its effect was verified through indoor tests. The results show that humic fertilizers can improve the quality and yield. And crop yield can still be guaranteed after reducing the amount of fertilizer by 20%. Currently, we have constructed corresponding demonstration fields to demonstrate and promote the effect of the product to farmers.

 

Type of Contribution

This technology has developed many innovative fertilizers and additives. They can reduce the amount of nutrients lost from the soil through leaching or volatilization. At the same time, they can also reduce the GHG emissions. When nutrients are lost from the soil, they can contribute to the release of nitrous oxide which is a potent greenhouse gas. The use of these innovative fertilizers can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing nutrient losses.

 

Benefits for farmers, the industry, and the environment

The innovative fertilizers and additives can reduce the amount of nutrients lost from the soil through leaching or volatilization. This not only allows farmers to save money on fertilizer purchases, but also reduces the environmental impact of nutrient runoff into water bodies. Farmers can achieve higher crop yields with less fertilizer input. This leads to cost savings and increased profitability. Moreover, the development of these innovative fertilizers and additives can create new market opportunities for the fertilizer industry. Manufacturers can differentiate their products in the market by offering more efficient and environmentally – friendly fertilizers. In terms of the environment, reduction in nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions is beneficial to protecting water quality and soil health and mitigating climate change.

 

3. PGPR strain application

 

Short Description of the Technology

The present invention aims to provide a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) strain, Bacillus velezensis SQR9, which exhibits the capability to reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soil. The PGPR strain, Bacillus velezensis SQR9, is a Gram-positive bacterium deposited at the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC, Beijing, China) on February 27, 2012, under the deposit number CGMCC 5808. Laboratory culture and pot experiments demonstrated that the N2O emission reduction capability of SQR9 is dose-dependent, with higher inoculation concentrations resulting in stronger mitigation effects. The strain achieves N2O reduction by enhancing the enzymatic activity of N₂O reductase, thereby accelerating the conversion of N2O to N2. Building on these laboratory findings, we promoted the field application of SQR9 bio-organic fertilizer and observed that it effectively increased vegetable yields by alleviating plant wilt incidence and reduced soil N2O emissions by 38% in a rotation system. The invention specifies that Bacillus velezensis SQR9 can be applied to vegetable cultivation fields to mitigate soil N2O emissions.

 

Innovative Features

Numerous methods have been developed to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils, including water management optimization, rational utilization of crop residues, and application of specific chemical amendments. In recent years, chemical agents such as biochar and nitrification inhibitors have been extensively reported as effective strategies for reducing soil N2O emissions. These technologies enhance nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency, reduce nitrate leaching, and suppress N2O release. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by high costs, inconsistent efficacy, and potential environmental risks. Plant rhizosphere probiotics, a class of beneficial microorganisms capable of colonizing plant root systems, exhibit dual functionalities in promoting plant growth and suppressing soil-borne pathogens. Significant advancements have been made by researchers globally in understanding rhizosphere probiotics, revealing their mechanisms of action, such as nutrient solubilization, phytohormone secretion, and emission of bioactive volatiles to stimulate plant development. These probiotics not only boost crop yields but also mitigate nitrogen loss and improve nitrogen use efficiency. Specifically, rhizosphere probiotics enhance crop nitrogen uptake and utilization, reduce soil mineral nitrogen accumulation, and interact synergistically or antagonistically with nitrogen-cycling functional microbes to curtail N2O production.

 

Type of Contribution

The plant rhizosphere-derived probiotic bacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9, originating from the plant rhizosphere, colonizes and functions within the rhizosphere to modify soil nitrogen transformation processes. It significantly enhances the soil N2O reduction rate, thereby reducing the soil N2O emission flux. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation exists between its inoculation concentration and the magnitude of soil N2O emission mitigation. The invention specifies that Bacillus velezensis SQR9 can be applied to vegetable cultivation fields to mitigate soil N2O emissions.

 

Benefits for farmers, the industry, and the environment

As environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional emission reduction techniques, plant probiotics—which reliably colonize the rhizosphere—offer multifaceted benefits. They enable simultaneous achievement of strategic objectives: increasing yield per unit area, improving soil structure, fostering resilient soil microbiomes, mitigating agricultural N2O emissions, reducing total agricultural greenhouse gas output, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices. This integrated approach aligns with global goals for climate-smart agriculture and ecological sustainability.

 

4. Straw enzymatic hydrolysate

 

Short Description of the Technology

Our innovation fuses straw-derived enzymatic hydrolysate (fluid created when fungal enzymes digest agricultural straw) with beneficial Trichoderma fungi, significantly improving soil vitality and nutrient utilization. Though not particularly nutrient-dense itself, this hydrolysate contains abundant bioactive elements functioning as natural growth catalysts. Such compounds stimulate beneficial soil microorganism proliferation while encouraging robust root formation in crops. Applied together with Trichoderma, the hydrolysate facilitates strong fungal attachment to plant root systems, allowing continuous enzyme secretion and antimicrobial substance production. This cooperative relationship establishes a self-sustaining cycle where enhanced microbial populations strengthen soil aggregate formation while minimizing nutrient runoff.

 

Innovative Features

Our approach transforms agricultural byproducts into powerful ecological farming tools. Rather than conventional nutrient-heavy fertilizers, we harness the hydrolysate’s distinctive biological properties to effectively “instruct” soil microorganisms. The manufacturing technique utilizes specialized fungal enzymes that convert straw materials into compact bioactive compounds serving as biological messengers that energize soil ecosystems. When introduced alongside Trichoderma species, this fluid preparation both enhances fungal establishment and reconfigures the rhizosphere by optimizing nutrient proportions while promoting beneficial relationships between Trichoderma and supportive bacterial communities. This methodology decreases dependency on manufactured agricultural chemicals while simultaneously rejuvenating compromised soil systems.

 

Type of Contribution

By leveraging fungal capabilities with bio-oriented solutions, our technology generates ecological advantages throughout agricultural systems. Activated soil microbial networks improve organic matter preservation, successfully sequestering carbon and securing it within soil structures. Concurrently, Trichoderma thoroughly colonizes plant root zones, establishing natural protection against soil-transmitted pathogens and decreasing chemical pesticide requirements. The interaction between these beneficial fungi and our enzymatic preparation additionally prevents excessive nutrient seepage, protecting groundwater quality. As implementation continues, soil physical characteristics gradually recover—enhancing moisture retention capacity—while simultaneously restoring microbial biodiversity. This process transforms deteriorated or chemically saturated agricultural land into robust soil ecosystems capable of maintaining sustainable crop production without environmental compromise.

 

Benefits for farmers, the industry, and the environment

Agricultural producers gain financial advantages through dual mechanisms: reduced expenditure on fertilizers and pesticides alongside improved crop resilience during challenging conditions. Through repurposing agricultural residues like straw into valuable materials, our approach creates promising commercial possibilities including environmentally-responsible bio-stimulants and soil restoration products. From an environmental perspective, our system addresses several challenges simultaneously: decreasing atmospheric pollution from straw burning practices, limiting greenhouse gas release from excessive fertilizer application, and developing more climate-adaptable agricultural lands. Notably, by enhancing the soil’s inherent nutrient-retention properties, our approach dramatically reduces nitrogen and phosphorus movement into water systems—key factors contributing to groundwater degradation and excessive algae development in aquatic environments.

 

5. Innovative soil additives

 

Short Description of the Technology

This technology aims to solve the problems of slow decomposition of organic materials such as straw under Specialised Decision Support Systems (DSSs) in greenhouse vegetables and the decline in vegetable fruit quality caused by soil calcium and magnesium deficiency. To address this problem, we chose microbial agents (Trichoderma) and diatomaceous earth powder as soil additives, which are applied in combination with soil rotary tillage before planting. The ratio of microbial agent to organic fertilizer is 5:95, and the dosage of diatomaceous earth powder is 3 t/ha/season. Accelerating straw degradation by adding microbial agents and supplementing soil with calcium and magnesium elements by adding diatomaceous earth powder. We also monitored soil N2O emissions and fruit quality indicators during the growth process of greenhouse tomatoes.

 

Innovative Features

The precision irrigation technology based on DSSs has a small irrigation volume, resulting in slow decomposition of organic materials such as straw in the soil, which has adverse effects on crop growth. However, this situation has little impact under traditional drip irrigation mode. Therefore, in the precise irrigation mode, it is necessary to accelerate the decomposition of organic materials such as straw in the soil by applying microbial agents. In addition, calcium and magnesium elements are important quality elements for eggplant and fruit vegetables. However, in recent years, with the intensification of soil acidification and the continuous leaching loss of soil nutrients, the problem of fruit quality decline caused by calcium and magnesium deficiency has become increasingly severe. Therefore, it is necessary to apply additional additives containing calcium and magnesium to increase soil calcium and magnesium content and improve fruit quality.

 

Type of Contribution

Compared with the control, the application of microbial agents and diatomaceous earth powder significantly reduced soil N2O emissions by11.5%, significantly increased fruit soluble sugar by 57.7% and vitamin C content by 25.2%, and significantly reduced fruit organic acid content by 14.8%.

 

Benefits for farmers, the industry, and the environment

This technology significantly improves fruit quality and increases farmers’ income, which is worth promoting and applying. In addition, this technology significantly reduces soil N2O emissions, which is beneficial for protecting the ecological environment. The combination of soil additives and intelligent precision irrigation and fertilization in this technology forms an integrated technology model, and its promotion and application can promote green and efficient production in the greenhouse vegetable industry.