Lipomycin M - Moisture Retention Formulation for Soil

Over a period of five years investigating the soil microbiome in bare land and deforested areas in Vĩnh Phúc and Phú Thọ provinces, the Department of Bioactive Substances Research (Institute of Biotechnology – Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) has isolated a collection of microbial strains, including the strain soil yeast Lipomyces starkeyi PT7.1. Based on the distinctive biological characteristics of this yeast strain, researchers have developed a technological process for producing a soil moisture retention product commercially named Lipomycin M (derived from the name Lipomyces; M comes from the English word “moisture,” meaning humidity) and have successfully tested it on a trial scale.

The moisture retention product Lipomycin M is produced using a solid-state fermentation method on cassava flour substrate. The fermentation duration is five days. After fermentation, the product is dried to a moisture content of 12-15%, preservatives are added, and it is packaged. The shelf life is 2-3 months post-packaging. The quantity of L. starkeyi PT7.1 yeast in the Lipomycin M product is 10⁸ CFU/g, meeting Vietnam’s fertilizer standards.

Moisture Retention Effects of Lipomycin M:

– Reduces water evaporation and increases soil moisture (both general moisture and maximum hygroscopic moisture levels of the soil increase).

– Helps make the soil more porous, increases the number of earthworms, invertebrates, and other beneficial microbial groups in the soil.

– Improves some physical and chemical properties of the soil: Soil acidity tends to decrease; the content of available phosphorus and exchangeable cations such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ increases.

– Non-toxic and safe for the soil ecosystem.

Usage Instructions:

Apply around the base of the plant, or create a trench (if planting in rows), cover with soil, and water. If in a drought-prone area without irrigation, apply at the end of the rainy season or the beginning of the dry season. During drought, the Lipomyces yeast survives in the soil as spores; when it rains, the spores proliferate, forming a biofilm that enhances soil structure, reduces water evaporation, and increases soil moisture.

Dosing: 20 g per plant base (for young seedlings) and 30-35 g for plants with a height of 1.5-2.0 m. It is recommended to mix with multifunctional microbial fertilizers or NPK microbial fertilizers. When applied in conjunction with these fertilizers, moisture retention efficiency increases by 10-15% compared to using Lipomycin M alone.

Application Results:

The soil moisture-retaining microbial product Lipomycin M has been applied to enhance moisture and improve some physical and chemical properties of the soil in field trials at the Me Linh Biodiversity Station in Vĩnh Phúc. Test results indicate that Lipomycin M increases soil moisture by 10 to 15% compared to controls during the dry season.

Currently, the research team can provide a small quantity of the product to facilities in need of testing.

In the context of drought occurring in many areas of Vietnam, the use of the microbial product Lipomycin M to increase soil moisture is one of the effective solutions to help farmers overcome challenges during the dry season.