Use of synergistic microorganisms and nutrients to produce signals that facilitate the germination and plant root colonization of mycorrhizal fungi in phosphorus rich environments

A composition of matter comprising:

• a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus or another calcium solubilizing fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium or another bacterium that produces a phytase enzyme, and a mycorrhiza fungus or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi;
• wherein said combination is operative to enable said plurality of microorganisms to colonize a plant root when said combination is placed in the vicinity of said plant root.

A composition of matter comprising:

• a plurality of nutrients comprising a phytate or phytic acid, combined with a plurality of fungi, and a plurality of bacteria in the presence of a seed, a plant, or a root.

A method comprising:

• producing a mixture that is comprised of a nutrient component, a fungus component, and a bacterium component that is operative to produce a synergy among the components;
• applying said mixture to a seed or applying said mixture in a growth medium in contact with said seed or near to said seed or in a soil mixture wherein said fungus component and said bacterium component reduce said nutrient component into a plant-available form;
• allowing a mycorrhizal fungus to colonize a root produced by said seed in the presence of said plant-available form and increasing plant yield or seed yield.

A method for increasing plant yield comprising:

• placing a combination of phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus or another calcium solubilizing fungal component, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium or another bacterial phytase enzyme producing bacterial component and a mycorrhiza fungus or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows said microorganisms to colonize said plant root.

A method for improving soil aggregation and soil quality comprising:

• placing a Trichoderma virens fungus or another calcium solubilizing fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium or another bacterium that produces a phytase enzyme, and a mycorrhiza fungus or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows said fungi and bacterium to colonize said plant root.

A method for increasing the yield of a plant, said method comprising:

• using a phytase enzyme to reduce phytate and release readily-plant-available phosphorus in a rhizosphere in which said plant is growing;
• and
• producing a signal molecule that facilitates germination of a mycorrhizal fungus and subsequent colonization of the roots of the plant by said mycorrhizal fungus.

A method for increasing the yield of a crop, said method comprising:

• applying a composition of matter to each acre of cropland;
• wherein said composition of matter comprises:
• about 30,000 propagules of Mycorrhizae in about five gallons of water, about one gallon of an about 15 to about 40 percent aqueous solution of a phytate, about 6.75E8 to about 4.20E9 colony forming units of Trichoderma virens, and about 1.35E10 to about 8.40E10 colony forming units Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.