“EnSoil Algae could be a great way to achieve healthy soils and fertilize crops in a sustainable way.” ― Dr. James White, Rutgers University
In the first year of research, Dr. James White and his team at Rutgers University observed EnSoil Algae™ cells filled with endophytes in the rhizosphere and inside plant root hairs. These results were confirmed in phase two.
Dr. White said, “EnSoil Algae™ carry their own bacterial endophytes that are delivered directly into plant roots, resulting in improved plant growth and nutrition… In a sense–the algae become a type of hidden cover crop in soil around plants–providing plants with a continuous supply of bacteria for the rhizophagy cycle. Cover crops all provide microbes/endophytes to crop plants. The difference here is that your algae go right to the root tip of plants where endophytes are delivered. It is a cool system. This could be a great way to achieve healthy soils and fertilize crops in a sustainable way.”
Phase 2
Phase two addressed seed germination and seedling growth on fortified agarose in petri dishes. It is an artificial system, but it has a purity advantage; growth is not influenced by soil quality or weather, just the applied biostimulant.
The study compared the effects of four biostimulants on grass, tomato and clover: 1) EnSoil Algae™, 2) generic Chlorella vulgaris from the same strain but not grown using ESC’s proprietary method, 3) EnSoil Algae™ broth (growth medium) that contains plant growth promoters, and 4) a commercially available, American-made Chlorella vulgaris broth that is marketed as a biostimulant.
EnSoil Algae™ > generic Chlorella vulgaris > control
EnSoil Algae™ broth > commercial broth
A combination of growth measures (germination, root and root hair development, leaf expansion) documented the following for each of the three plants: EnSoil Algae™ (a proprietary blend of live algae) outperformed generic (autotrophic) Chlorella vulgaris, EnSoil Algae™ broth, and commercial broth.
Additionally, phase two demonstrated EnSoil Algae™ promotes strong seed germination. Seeds require a healthy microbial community in the endosphere to support the function and performance of the plant and to increase resilience to biotic and abiotic stressors.
The images below show EnSoil Algae™ outperformed all other treatments.