--- title: Soileos and the 'Final Frontier' of Ecology description: "Increasing awareness of soil as an essential ecosystem is a fundamental shift in\nhow we think about soil and, in turn, how we care for it." image: https://blog.soileos.com/hubfs/Harvest.png --- [![logo](https://blog.soileos.com/hubfs/logo.svg)](https://blog.soileos.com) - [Products](https://soileos.com/products/) - [Product Overview](https://soileos.com/products/) - [Soileos Boron + Zinc](https://soileos.com/products/soileos-boron-zinc/) - [Soileos Copper](https://soileos.com/products/soileos-copper/) - [Soileos Iron](https://soileos.com/products/soileos-iron/) - [Soileos Manganese](https://soileos.com/products/soileos-manganese/) - [Soileos Zinc](https://soileos.com/products/soileos-zinc/) - [How It Works](https://soileos.com/how-it-works/) - [Performance](https://soileos.com/performance/) - [Trial Data](https://soileos.com/trialdata/) - [ROI Calculator](https://soileos.com/roi-calculator/) - [Soil Health](https://soileos.com/soil-health/) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.soileos.com) - [Events](https://soileos.com/events/) - [Podcast](https://soileos.com/the-back-forty-broadcast/) - [Soil Academy](https://soileos.com/soil-academy/) - [Soil Academy](https://soileos.com/soil-academy/) - [Agronomic Foundations](https://soileos.com/soil-academy/#agronomic-foundations) - [Micronutrient Deep Dives](https://soileos.com/soil-academy/#micronutrient-deep-dives) - [Crop-Specific Guides](https://soileos.com/soil-academy/#crop-specific-guides) [Where to Buy](https://soileos.com/find-a-retailer/) # Soileos and the 'Final Frontier' of Ecology Soileos is a soil-applied, smart crop nutrition delivery system. It enhances yields, crop resilience, and soil health with on-time nutrient delivery and sustained bioavailability, allowing the crop to maximize its genetic potential. [Lucent Bio’s](https://lucentbiosciences.com/technology/)[patented technology](https://lucentbiosciences.com/technology/) upcycles cellulose derived from crop processing residues such as lentil, pea, or rice husks into a sustainable delivery agent for nutrients. Soileos is a dry granular product of a similar size and weight to conventional dry granular products. Unlike conventional products, Soileos’ organic substrate means soil organic carbon levels are enhanced through its use. The net result is higher crop yields, improved nutrient density, and healthier soils with higher carbon. Lucent Bio conducted [research on Soileos with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada](https://app.hubspot.com/documents/9252743/view/467790386?accessId=4a9a13) to declare the mode of action and the interaction with the soil microbiome with a focus on microbial activity. This research really got the team excited, as after almost a decade of research and development, our COMPLETLY NEW COMPOSITION OF MATTER was ready for this next stage of scientific investigation.  Increasing awareness of soil as an essential ecosystem is a fundamental shift in how we think about soil and, in turn, how we care for it. Because let's face it, even though it is widely acknowledged that soil biomes are highly important for nutrient and carbon cycling,[1](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#Bender) not many people think that soil is a sexy science... There has been an urgent call to study the intercommunication between plants and microbes, specifically identifying functional roles and interspecies interactions.[2](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R2) Recent scientific understanding of the extent to which soil biota and plants cofunction and the potential for nature-based microbiome priming to replace synthetic agricultural inputs have only started to be uncovered.[3](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R3) Some researchers call this void of information the “final frontier of ecology.”[4](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R4) Soil microbiomes enhance plant growth through three processes: 1. Hormone manipulations [5](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R5), 2. Outcompeting and surviving pathogenic microbes,[6](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R6) [7](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R7) 3. Increasing the bioavailability of nutrients in soil microbiomes.[8](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R8) [9](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R9) Our research focus' on the third aspect and how Soileos increases bioavailable nutrients in the soil microbiome. We started with [Soileos Zinc](https://soileos.com/products/soileos-zinc/). Micronutrient-deficient soils are a global problem that directly impacts human health. Malnutrition due to the consumption of crops with low dietary value has ignited the pursuit of more sustainable solutions. According to the World Health Organization more than two billion people around the world are at risk of zinc deficiency disorder.[10](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R10) [11](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R11) Zinc deficiency is particularly acute in developing countries where populations rely mostly on cereals for staple food and have little access to meat.[12](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R12) In Canada and the USA, 10-12% of the population consumes inadequate amounts of zinc.[13](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R13) Climate change is both directly and indirectly affecting interactions between the soil microbiome and plants by altering community structure, function, and prosperity.[14 15](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R15)[16](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R16)Agricultural soils rely heavily on healthy microbiomes to achieve high productivity and crop quality.[17](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R17) Soil ecosystems are one of the largest reservoirs of biological diversity on Earth; they make up 60% of the Earth’s biomass.[18](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R18) ![Zinc-Deficiencies-in-NA-2](https://blog.soileos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zinc-Deficiencies-in-NA-2.jpg?width=724&height=595&name=Zinc-Deficiencies-in-NA-2.jpg) In agro-ecosystems, zinc deficiency is the most geographically widespread micronutrient constraint limiting crop production. In western Canada, soil samples have shown that zinc is deficient in 30% of those taken in Alberta, 66% in Saskatchewan and 61% in Manitoba.[19](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R19) Zinc is a critical nutrient because it is essential for plant growth.[20](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R20) It plays a key role in DNA replication and regulation of gene expression and is vital for germination, chlorophyll production, pollen function, fertilization[21](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R21), and biomass production.[22](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R22) Soil becomes zinc deficient when crop removal exceeds zinc availability and fertilization. Zinc may not be available for plant uptake due to soil characteristics such as high soil pH or low organic matter content. Zinc is also immobile in the soil, meaning it cannot travel to plant roots to be taken up unless it is dissolved and moves with the groundwater. Soileos Mode of Action Soileos is the fertilizer of the future. Patented technology binds micronutrients to cellulose and uses the soil’s natural biological activity to release nutrients to the crops as required. When Soileos is applied and incorporated into the soil, the cellulose-bound nutrients are effectively delivered to the plants in a sustainable method. Nutrients delivered from Soileos to the crop lean on the symbiotic relationship of microbes and plants; micronutrients are slowly released from the cellulose of Soileos through microbial mineralization. This is why we call Soileos Bio-Active. ![F1-Soileos increas in MBC](https://blog.soileos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/F1-Soileos%20increas%20in%20MBC.png?width=400&height=347&name=F1-Soileos%20increas%20in%20MBC.png) When soils are fertilized with Soileos, the naturally present microbes begin to consume the organic carbon from the cellulose, increasing their microbial biomass carbon. In this process, they also consume cellulose-bound micronutrients such as zinc. In studies conducted at AAFC, the microbial biomass increased by more than 20% when using Soileos compared to the control (Figure 1). Once the easily degraded carbon is consumed, the microbial population declines, and the micronutrients are released back into the soil in a bioavailable form for crop uptake. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, Soileos is an organic fertilizer that fortifies the soil with natural carbon. Soil life in organic systems such as this can be over 80% more active than in conventional systems.[23](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology#R23) The rate of microbial activity is dependent on conditions such as temperature, moisture, and pH. Warm, moist conditions facilitate a more active microbiome, whereas cool, dry conditions result in a less active microbiome. This means that the micronutrients from Soileos are not released from the cellulose until conditions are met that promote microbial activity. This allows nutrients delivered from Soileos to become available for plant uptake when the plants need them throughout the growing season. Are you still interested in learning how Soileos increases yield through the activation of the microbiome? Just for you, I'll give you our FULL whitepaper - no email required 😉. [![Read More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/9252743/62d7c03a-966b-4bc3-8217-4005f85825d4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/9252743/62d7c03a-966b-4bc3-8217-4005f85825d4) References: 1 - Bender, S. F., Wagg, C., & van der Heijden, M. G. A. (2016). An Underground Revolution: Biodiversity and Soil Ecological Engineering for Agricultural Sustainability. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 31(6), 440–452. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.016 2 - Thijs, S., Sillen, W., Rineau, F., Weyens, N., & Vangronsveld, J. (2016). Towards an enhanced understanding of PLANT–MICROBIOME interactions to Improve Phytoremediation: Engineering THE METAORGANISM. Frontiers in Microbiology, 7. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00341 3 - Jacoby, R., Peukert, M., Succurro, A., Koprivova, A., &; Kopriva, S. (2017). The role of soil microorganisms in Plant MINERAL Nutrition—current knowledge and future directions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01617 4 - Paungfoo-Lonhienne, C., Rentsch, D., Robatzek, S., Webb, R. I., Sagulenko, E., Näsholm, T.,. . . Lonhienne, T. G. (2010). Turning the table: Plants consume microbes as a source of nutrients. PLoS ONE, 5(7). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011915 5 - Verbon, E. H., &; Liberman, L. M. (2016). Beneficial microbes affect endogenous mechanisms controlling root development. Trends in Plant Science, 21(3), 218-229. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2016.01.013 6 - Mendes, R., Garbeva, P., &; Raaijmakers, J. M. (2013). The rhizosphere microbiome: Significance of plant beneficial, plant pathogenic, and human pathogenic microorganisms. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 37(5), 634-663. doi:10.1111/1574-6976.12028 7 - Berendsen, R. L., Pieterse, C. M. J., & Bakker, P. A. H. M. (2012). The rhizosphere microbiome and plant health. Trends in Plant Science, 17(8), 478–486. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2012.04.001 8 - Van der Heijden, M. G., Bardgett, R. D., &; Van Straalen, N. M. (2008). The unseen majority: Soil microbes as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Ecology Letters, 11(3), 296-310. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01139.x 9 - Jacoby, R., Peukert, M., Succurro, A., Koprivova, A., &; Kopriva, S. (2017). The role of soil microorganisms in Plant MINERAL Nutrition—current knowledge and future directions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01617 10 - World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), 2002. 2nd ed. World Health Organization, Geneva. 11 - Stein, A. J. (2009). Global impacts of human mineral malnutrition. Plant and Soil, 335(1-2), 133- 154. doi:10.1007/s11104-009-0228-2 12 - Cakmak, I. (2007). Enrichment of cereal grains with zinc: Agronomic or genetic biofortification? Plant and Soil, 302(1-2), 1-17. doi:10.1007/s11104-007-9466-3 13 - Health Canada. (2012). Do Canadian Adults Meet Their Nutrient ... Retrieved March 19, 2021, from https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/migration/hc-sc/fn-an/alt\_formats/ pdf/surveill/nutrition/commun/art-nutr-adult-eng.pdf 14 - Abhilash, P. C., Dubey, R. K., Tripathi, V., Srivastava, P., Verma, J. P., & Singh, H. B. (2013). Remediation and management of POPs-contaminated soils in a warming climate: challenges and perspectives. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20(8), 5879– 5885. doi:10.1007/s11356-013-1808-5 15 - Tripathi, V., Fraceto, L. F., & Abhilash, P. C. (2015). Sustainable clean-up technologies for soils contaminated with multiple pollutants: Plant-microbe-pollutant and climate nexus. Ecological Engineering, 82, 330–335. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.05.027 16 - Bojko, O., & Kabala, C. (2017). Organic carbon pools in mountain soils — Sources of variability and predicted changes in relation to climate and land-use changes. CATENA, 149, 209–220. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2016.09.022 17 - Köberl, M., Wagner, P., Müller, H., Matzer, R., Unterfrauner, H., Cernava, T., &; Berg, G. (2020). Unravelling the complexity of Soil microbiomes in a large-scale Study subjected to different agricultural management in Styria. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11. doi:10.3389/ fmicb.2020.01052 18 - Dubey, A., Malla, M. A., Khan, F., Chowdhary, K., Yadav, S., Kumar, A., . . . Khan, M. L. (2019). Soil microbiome: A key player for conservation of soil health under changing climate. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28(8-9), 2405-2429. doi:10.1007/s10531-019-01760-5 19 Murrell, T. Scott & Williams, Ryan & Fixen, Paul & Bruulsema, Tom & williams, elle. (2016). 2015 North American Soil Test Summary. 20 - Marschner’s mineral nutrition of higher plants. (2021). ELSEVIER ACADEMIC Press. 21 - Pandey, N., Pathak, G. C., & Sharma, C. P. (2006). Zinc is critically required for pollen function and fertilization in lentil. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 20(2), 89-96. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2005.09.006 22 Kaya, C., & Higgs, D. (2002). Response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum l.) cultivars to foliar application of zinc when grown in sand culture at low zinc. Scientia Horticulturae, 93(1), 53-64. doi:10.1016/s0304-4238(01)00310-7 23 - Lori, M.; Symnaczik, S.; Mäder, P.; Deyn, G.D.; Gattinger, A. Organic farming enhances soil microbial abundance and activity—A meta-analysis and meta-regression. PLOS ONE 2017, 12, e0180442, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180442. #### Subscribe ###### [Devon Simpson Devon is a storyteller with a passion for sustainable agriculture, bringing innovative solutions to life.](https://blog.soileos.com/author/devon-simpson) Share post on: ### [PREVIOUS POST Soileos in the Context of 4Rs](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-in-the-context-of-4-rs?hsLang=en-ca) [Blog Home](https://blog.soileos.com) ### [NEXT POST Optimize your ROI with Variable Rate](https://blog.soileos.com/optimize-your-roi-with-variable-rate?hsLang=en-ca) - [English - Canada](https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology) - [Español](https://blog.soileos.com/es/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology) - [Português - Brasil](https://blog.soileos.com/pt-br/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology) ![logo-white](https://blog.soileos.com/hubfs/logo-white.svg) Soileos is a developed by Lucent BioSciences, Inc. and manufactured by Soileos AGT Saskatchewan LP in Rosetown, SK. Lucent BioSciences, Inc. 207-1425 Marine Drive West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B9 Soileos AGT Saskatchewan LP Rosetown, SK [**Contact Us**](https://hello.lucentbiosciences.com/get-started-with-lucent-bio) - [Home](https://lucentbiosciences.com/) - [How it Works](https://soileos.com/how-it-works/) - [Products](https://lucentbiosciences.com/products/) - [Performance](https://lucentbiosciences.com/trialdata/) - [Soil Health](https://soileos.com/soil-health/) - [Company](https://lucentbiosciences.com/) - [Where To Buy](https://soileos.com/find-a-retailer/) [Subscribe](https://lucentbiosciences-9252743.hs-sites.com/newslettersubscription?hsLang=en-ca) © 2026 Lucent BioSciences, Inc. [Privacy Policy](https://soileos.com/privacy-policy/) [Terms and Conditions](https://soileos.com/terms-and-conditions/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Devon Simpson", "url" : "https://blog.soileos.com/author/devon-simpson" }, "dateModified" : "2024-12-10T18:53:46.571Z", "datePublished" : "2023-01-05T15:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Soileos and the 'Final Frontier' of Ecology", "image" : [ "https://blog.soileos.com/hubfs/Harvest.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.soileos.com/soileos-and-the-final-frontier-of-ecology", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.soileos.com/hubfs/Soileos_HORI_RGB-4.png" }, "name" : "AGT Soileos" } } ```