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Dried Coffee Plant (Photo: SGGP) |
Recently, Associate Professor Dr. Tống Kim Thuần and scientists from the Institute of Biotechnology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) conducted research on using mucilaginous microorganisms to retain moisture in the soil.
More importantly, these yeast strains have been isolated and produced as marketable products on a small scale, and have been tested effectively to support reforestation efforts in barren lands.
This biological product is named Lipomycin – M, with its main component being the yeast strain Lipomyces PT7.1, isolated from the barren lands of Hạ Hòa District (Phú Thọ Province). Its advantages include the ability to produce mucus in dry soil conditions and thrive at high temperatures.
Leveraging these properties, the research team introduced them into a culture medium with suitable temperature and humidity. After a fermentation period of 5 days, the yeast biomass was harvested, preservatives were added, and the mixture was dried and packaged.
Using this product is very simple: just apply Lipomycin – M around the base of the tree in moderate doses, then cover it with a layer of soil. In arid regions without irrigation, the product should be applied at the end of the dry season or the beginning of the rainy season. In dry conditions without rain, the yeast grows slowly and can survive throughout the dry season in the form of spores.
When the rainy season arrives, the spores germinate and proliferate, creating a mucus layer that reduces moisture evaporation, increases the soil’s water retention capacity, and maintains soil moisture in areas without irrigation for extended periods, contributing to a higher survival rate of crops.
Notably, when this product is mixed with NPK fertilizer, its moisture retention effectiveness increases by 15 – 30% compared to when applied separately. In addition to these advantages, the microorganism Lipomycin – M also possesses many other beneficial characteristics, such as not harming soil microorganisms, soil animals, or the ecological environment, and not being toxic to crops.
Mr. Tống Kim Thuần stated that the Institute of Biotechnology currently requires investment to produce on a larger scale, enhancing its effectiveness for farmers, or to transfer technology to arid regions.
