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Boosting Bean Growth: The Potential of a Probiotic Solution Containing a Blend of Bacillus Strains in a Backyard Garden Setting
Case Study Summary
Introduction
The relationship between human civilization and agriculture has been intertwined throughout history, as food production is essential for sustaining populations and maintaining societal stability. With the rapid population growth of the 20th century, the need to increase food production became paramount. This led to the Green Revolution of the 1960s-1980s, which resulted in a significant increase in crop yields and saved millions from starvation. This success was largely due to the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, though these chemical products have negative impacts on both human health and the environment.
A recent study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a probiotic solution containing a blend of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, and Bacillus licheniformis on bean plant growth in a backyard garden setting.
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Methodology
A controlled study was conducted to evaluate the potential of a probiotic solution containing a blend of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, and Bacillus licheniformis on bean plant growth in a backyard garden setting. A total of 20 pots were used in the study, with 10 pots designated as the treatment group, and the other 10 as the control group. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two treatments and ten replications per treatment.
The probiotic solution was prepared by mixing equal parts of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, and Bacillus licheniformis at a concentration of 1x10^9 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The solution was applied to the soil in the treatment group pots at a rate of 10 ml (2 teaspoons) per pot, which corresponds to approximately 2x10^8 CFU/pot, once a week for a total of 8 weeks. The control group pots received no treatment.
Bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris) were planted in both the treatment and control pots and were watered and fertilized according to the standard gardening practices. Data was collected at regular intervals throughout the growing season, including plant height, leaf area, and seed yield. Plant height was measured from the soil surface to the highest point of the plant using a ruler. Seed yield was determined by counting the number of seeds per pot.
The data was analyzed using a t-test to determine the statistical significance of the differences in growth between the treatment and control groups. The trial was conducted for a total of 8 weeks, starting from the day of planting the seeds.
Results
The results of the study indicate that the probiotic solution containing a blend of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, and Bacillus licheniformis can be an effective tool for improving bean plant growth in a backyard garden setting. The treatment group showed significant growth improvements compared to the control group.
The plants in the treatment group were taller, with an average height of 45.2 cm, compared to the control group, which had an average height of 40.6 cm. This represents an increase of 11.2% in plant height.
The seed yield of the plants in the treatment group was also higher, with an average yield of 23.5 g per pot, compared to the control group, which had an average yield of 18.2 g per pot, representing an increase of 29.1%.
The data was analyzed using a t-test, which showed that the differences in growth between the treatment and control group were statistically significant (p-value <0.05).
Discussion
This study suggests that the probiotic solution containing a blend of B. coagulans, B. subtilis, B. clausii, and B. licheniformis can be an effective tool for improving bean plant growth in a backyard garden setting. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these positive effects and to confirm the results. This study provides a promising proof of concept for using probiotics as a growth enhancer in gardening and small-scale agriculture.
References
- García-Fraile, P. et al. (2017). Bacterial Probiotics: A Truly Green Revolution. In: Kumar, V., Kumar, M., Sharma, S., Prasad, R. (eds) Probiotics and Plant Health. Springer, Singapore. doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3473-2_6
- de Souza Vandenberghe LP, Garcia LMB, Rodrigues C, Camara MC, de Melo Pereira GV, de Oliveira J, Soccol CR. Potential applications of plant probiotic microorganisms in agriculture and forestry. AIMS Microbiol. 2017 Jul 19;3(3):629-648. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2017.3.629. PMID: 31294180; PMCID: PMC6604986.