Preventing or reducing plant growth by biocementation

Abstract

The present invention primarily relates to the use of a mixture capable of biocementation as a means of preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth, on/in a substrate.

1 . A mixture capable of biocementation of a substrate comprising:
 (i) one or more organisms or enzymes capable of forming carbonate, inducing carbonate formation, or catalyzing carbonate formation;   (ii) one or more substances to form the carbonate;   (iii) optionally, one or more cation sources; and   (iv) one or more additives selected from polyhydroxybutyrate, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylate, poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), copolymers, derivatives of cellulose, derivatives of lignin, lignosulfonates, derivatives of pectins, natural adhesives, in particular gum arabic, latex, derivatives of rubber, derivatives of chitin, derivatives of chitosan, derivatives of cyclodextrins, derivatives of dextrins, hydrogel formers, cold soluble and/or warm soluble (plant) glues, microbial exopolysaccharides containing or consisting of maleic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose and/or inulin, monomers of polysaccharides, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, inulin, protein sources, casein, albumin, peptones, residues and industrial materials selected from the group consisting of maize steep liquor, lactose mother liquor, protein lysates, protein waste from yeast production, protein waste from meat production, protein waste from dairy industry, silicates and derivatives thereof, water glasses and water glass-like binders, cement additives, aluminium oxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide, microsilica, bentonites, resins and epoxides, natural and chemical herbicides, fungicides, molluscicides, insecticides, hydrophobizers, emulsifiers, thixotropic agents, crystallization nuclei and crystallization modifiers, trace elements, sulphates, bacteria capable of forming polymers, and substances that modify biocementation;
 wherein the mixture is free of cement, and 
 the one or more additives are present in an amount to additionally solidify or harden the substrate or increase its stability. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is a liquid, a gel, a paste, or a powder. 
     
     
         3 . The mixture of  claim 1  comprising the one or more organisms, wherein the one or more organisms are selected from microorganisms. 
     
     
         4 . The mixture of  claim 3 , wherein the microorganisms are selected from microorganisms of the phylum of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The mixture of  claim 4 , wherein the microorganisms are selected from the class of Bacilli, Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 1  comprising the one or more enzymes, wherein the one or more enzymes are selected from urease, asparaginase, carbonic anhydrase, and metabolic enzymes. 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more substances to form the carbonate are selected from urea and salts thereof, organic acids and salts and esters thereof, peptides, amino acids and salts and esters thereof, vegetable and animal complex substrates, industrial waste streams, protein lysates, anaerobic substrates, and methane. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cation sources are selected from organic and inorganic calcium salts, magnesium salts, manganese salts, zinc salts, cobalt salts, nickel salts, copper salts, lead salts, iron salts, cadmium salts, polymers, heavy metal cations, light metal cations, radioactive cations, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture does not comprise the one or more cation sources of (iii). 
     
     
         10 . A method for biocementation of a substrate comprising applying the mixture of  claim 1  to the substrate and allowing the mixture to solidify. 
     
     
         11 . A mixture capable of biocementation of a substrate comprising:
 (i) one or more organisms or enzymes capable of forming carbonate, inducing carbonate formation, or catalyzing carbonate formation;   (ii) one or more substances to form the carbonate;   (iii) optionally, one or more cation sources; and   (iv) one or more additives selected from polyhydroxybutyrate, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylate, poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), derivatives of cellulose, derivatives of pectins, natural adhesives, in particular gum arabic, latex, derivatives of chitin, derivatives of chitosan, derivatives of cyclodextrins, derivatives of dextrins, hydrogel formers, cold soluble and/or warm soluble (plant) glues, microbial exopolysaccharides containing or consisting of maleic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose and/or inulin, monomers of polysaccharides, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, inulin, protein sources, casein, albumin, peptones, residues and industrial materials selected from the group consisting of maize steep liquor, lactose mother liquor, protein lysates, protein waste from yeast production, protein waste from meat production, protein waste from dairy industry; acrylates and derivatives thereof; water glasses and water glass-like binders, aluminium oxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide, microsilica, bentonites, epoxides, natural and chemical herbicides, fungicides, molluscicides, insecticides, thixotropic agents, crystallization nuclei and crystallization modifiers, trace elements, sulphates, bacteria capable of forming polymers, and substances that modify biocementation;
 wherein the additives are present in an amount to additionally solidify or harden the substrate or to increase its stability. 
   
     
     
         12 . The mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture is a liquid, a gel, a paste, or a powder. 
     
     
         13 . The mixture of  claim 11  comprising the one or more organisms, wherein the one or more organisms are selected from microorganisms. 
     
     
         14 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the microorganisms are selected from microorganisms of the phylum of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein the microorganisms are selected from the class of Bacilli, Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The mixture of  claim 11  comprising the one or more enzymes, wherein the one or more enzymes are selected from urease, asparaginase, carbonic anhydrase, and metabolic enzymes. 
     
     
         17 . The mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more substances to form the carbonate are selected from urea and salts thereof, organic acids and salts and esters thereof, peptides, amino acids and salts and esters thereof, vegetable and animal complex substrates, industrial waste streams, protein lysates, anaerobic substrates, and methane. 
     
     
         18 . The mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more cation sources are selected from organic and inorganic calcium salts, magnesium salts, manganese salts, zinc salts, cobalt salts, nickel salts, copper salts, lead salts, iron salts, cadmium salts, polymers, heavy metal cations, light metal cations, radioactive cations, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture does not comprise the one or more cation sources of (iii). 
     
     
         20 . A method for biocementation of a substrate comprising applying the mixture of  claim 11  to the substrate and allowing the mixture to solidify.