Researchers at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory have developed an environmentally friendly way to get phosphates into the soil. They have made dried pellets out of phosphorus ore and Pseudomonas bacteria, which they’ve dubbed “biobeads”. Placed in moist soil, the bacteria convert the ore into bioavailable phosphates, slowly releasing it into the ground. This reduces the chances of excess phosphates leaching into groundwater, and avoids the toxic by-products created by conventional production methods.
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