Gamma Polyglutamic Acid (γ-PGA)

γ-Polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a new type of soluble and environmentally friendly polymer material fermented by microorganisms, it synthesized from L-glutamic acid and D-glutamic acid through amide bonds. γ-PGA was first discovered in the capsule of Bacillus anthracis in 1937 and is an important part of the capsule of Bacillus anthracis.

In 1942, researchers extracted γ-PGA from the fermentation broth of Bacillus subtilis, and later found γ-PGA in Bacillus natto. Because γ-PGA is easy to disperse, non-toxic, and harmless, as a new type of green polymer material, it is widely used in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and food.

Properties of γ-PGA

Water-Absorbing Quality

The maximum natural water absorption of polyglutamic acid can reach 1108. 4 times, and the absorption of soil moisture is 30-80 times.

Polyglutamic acid can still promote the germination rate of wheat and other crops under osmotic stress conditions, which shows that polyglutamic acid has a strong water absorption and moisturizing ability. Adding polyglutamic acid to the soil can make the soil retain water and release water slowly, which has a significant effect of resisting drought and promoting seedling growth.

Polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA ) has a variety of excellent properties, and has broad development prospects in the field of fertilizer applications. The current applications on γ-PGA polyglutamic acid focuses on the effect of fertilizer nutrient efficiency and promotion of physiological indicators.

Effect of Polyglutamic Acid in Agriculture

1. Water and Fertilizer Retention, Improve Crop Characteristics

The hydrophilic group-carboxyl group in the polyglutamic acid molecule has the functions of maintaining soil moisture content, improving soil bulkiness and porosity, improving sandy soil, and promoting soil fertility and water retention capacity.

The use of γ-PGA in agricultural production to treat seeds can improve the germination rate of seeds in arid and water-deficient areas. The use of γ-PGA to directly dress or soak seeds can improve the plant height of wheat and increase the emergence rate.

In the growing season, it can increase the height of the seedlings and prolong the depth of the root system. With the increase of the amount of γ-PGA, the promoting effect on wheat growth index was more significant.

2. Strong Roots and Increased Crop Yields

As a fertilizer synergist, γ-PGA can promote crop absorption of nutrients, increase yield, improve quality, improve crop stress resistance, and effectively reduce fertilizer application.

γ-PGA synergist can increase the plant growth, the number of grains per panicle and the number of effective panicles in the above and below ground parts of rice.

The application of γ-PGA to maize can significantly improve the chlorophyll content, root activity and biomass of maize seedlings, increase the 100-grain weight and the number of grains per ear, thereby increasing the yield.

3. Chelate Soil Heavy Metals, Improve Crop Stress Resistance

γ-PGA has a good chelating effect on heavy metals such as chromium, aluminum, lead and cadmium in the soil, which can effectively prevent crops from absorbing excessive toxic heavy metals from the soil, affecting crop safety and food safety.

We are dealing with wheat and its germination rate has increased significantly. At the same time, it increases the content of potassium ions under drought stress, participates in the enhancement of seedling penetration, thereby improving the drought tolerance of crops.

4. Improve Soil Condition, Adjust pH

γ-PGA has a good balance of acid and alkali in soil, reduces soil compaction and acidification caused by long-term application of fertilizers, and also improves soil alkalization and salinization caused by seawater inversion.

γ-PGA is beneficial to the accumulation of P, Mn and Zn in roots. Application of γ-PGA can activate phosphate rock powder, adjust soil acidity and alkalinity, and increase the content of phosphorus in soil.

Applications of Polyglutamic Acid Based Specialty Fertilizer

1. Improve Fertilizer Utilization, Reduce Environmental Pollution

The application of fertilizers containing polyglutamic acid can ensure the efficient absorption of nutrients during the growth period of crops, and can also significantly increase the content of nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium in the soil, so that one-time fertilization can meet the needs of crops throughout the growth cycle. Fertilizer needs to ensure the normal growth of crops.

The application of fertilizers containing polyglutamic acid can promote the extension of plant stems and leaves and the accumulation of biomass, and increase crop yield.

At the same time, it can reduce the pollution of chemical fertilizers to soil and water quality due to the reduction of fertilization.

2. Improve the Activity of Enzymes, Microorganisms in Soil

The application of fertilizers containing polyglutamic acid can increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the soil, such as actinomycetes and cellulolytic bacteria, promote the release of nutrients in large quantities, and greatly promote the transformation of organic matter.

Field Trial of γ-PGA

1. On Pepper Growth

On 2019, we used γ-PGA water soluble fertilizer on pepper seedlings, to improve seedling survival rate and promote stable root growth.

After seedling stage, we used two times at growth stage, to help pepper absorb nutrients better, and reduce pepper diseases.

2. On Tomato Growth

In May 2019, our customer in Shangdong Province used γ-PGA fertilizer on greenhouse tomatoes. Total 3 times during the whole growth period.

Compared to the CK group, the treat group have the uniform coloring, better appearance & taste. And early ripening of tomatoes.

3. On Cucumber Seedling

In December 2019, our customer from Shandong province used γ-PGA on cucumber seedlings.

From the comparison chart, we can clearly find that the effect is very significant. Treat group’s leaves are bigger and the root system was better developed.