Queen's University at Kingston

Zhongmin Dong

David B Layzell

Lishu Wu

Stephen Hunt

Adrian N Dowling

Lawrence J Winship

This invention provides methods of enhancing plant growth or yield, comprising exposing soil to hydrogen gas (H), and growing plants in the soil. The Hgas employed can be generated by electrolysis of water, produced by Hevolving microorganisms, and/or produced by legumes. In accordance with the invention, soil can be exposed to Hand plants then grown in it, or Hcan be applied directly to soil in which plants are already growing. In one embodiment, the invention comprises obtaining an aqueous extract from H-treated soil, and applying the extract to soil, seeds, and or plant roots.

Methods for enhancing plant growth using hydrogen gas

A method and apparatus for rapidly measuring nitrogenase activity of a nitrogen fixing plant growing in a medium in a non-porous container, is described. Gas containing hydrogen is sampled at the surface of the medium at a rate approximately equal to the rate of hydrogen diffusion from the medium, and the sample is passed to a hydrogen sensor where it is measured and nitrogenase activity is determined therefrom.

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Halifax, Canada

Zhongmin Dong