Abstract: A method for providing nutrients to a plant can include providing a nutrient composition and administering the nutrient composition to the plant or to soil or water having the plant so as to provide the plant nutrient to the plant. The nutrient composition can include: at least one biosurfactant penetrant selected from the group consisting of glycolipids, lipopeptides, flavolipids, lipoproteins, and combinations thereof; and a plant nutrient chelated or complexed with the at least one biosurfactant, the plant nutrient being selected from the group consisting of elicitors, plant-growth regulators, fertilizers, minerals, plant-stress reducing agents, and combinations thereof, wherein the nutrient composition is configured to penetrate into the plant. A method for retaining moisture in a cultivated plant is also disclosed. A method for treating a seed is also disclosed.

Abstract: Biosurfactants produced by microbes are used to control pests. The biosurfactants can be produced by cultivating a biosurfactant-producing microbe, producing a fermentation broth, and obtaining the biosurfactant from the fermentation broth. Alternately, the biosurfactants can be produced in situ in the environment of the pests by applying a carbon substrate to the pests' environment, which permits naturally-occurring biosurfactant-producing microbes to grow and to generate the biosurfactants. The biosurfactants have pesticidal qualities, and can be used to control a variety of pests, while being biodegradable and otherwise avoiding adverse environmental effects that have often been associated with conventional synthetic pesticides.

Abstract: Biosurfactants produced by microbes are used to control pests. The biosurfactants can be produced by cultivating a biosurfactant-producing microbe, producing a fermentation broth, and obtaining the biosurfactant from the fermentation broth. Alternately, the biosurfactants can be produced in situ in the environment of the pests by applying a carbon substrate to the pests' environment, which permits naturally-occurring biosurfactant-producing microbes to grow and to generate the biosurfactants. The biosurfactants have pesticidal qualities, and can be used to control a variety of pests, while being biodegradable and otherwise avoiding adverse environmental effects that have often been associated with conventional synthetic pesticides.