WYALGAE

A desert alga that helps dry soil hold water and nutrients

WYAlgae is a novel soil amendment based on a desiccation-tolerant green alga isolated from the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming.

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Built by a soil crust that survives Wyoming

This soil-dwelling alga is a component of dryland soil biocrusts. It tolerates desiccation and the extreme temperatures found in Wyoming.

Isolated from undisturbed biocrusts in the rugged Bighorn Basin, WYAlgae is a tough green alga in the Tetradesmus genus that thrives in harsh, high-altitude conditions. When applied to agricultural fields, it promotes a pseudo-biocrust that locks in nutrients and moisture.

Dark biocrust soil in the Bighorn Basin, with microscope images of the alga cells
Undisturbed biocrust in the Bighorn Basin and the alga cells isolated from it.

What WYAlgae does

  • Persists. WYAlgae stays in soils for at least three years.
  • Holds water. It promotes water infiltration and retention.
  • Keeps nutrients. It retains nutrients in the soil.
  • Raises yields. It increases crop biomass yields.
  • Ships dry. Unlike Chlorella vulgaris based treatments, WYAlgae can be desiccated and keep its viability, which simplifies shipping and application.
Seedlings growing in cracked soil in a greenhouse pot
In soils treated with WYAlgae, soils retained significantly more moisture.

Tested from lab bench to field

Greenhouse trials show significant increases in biomass under drought in both spring wheat and alfalfa. Field trials at the SAREC extension site show significant increases in corn yields.

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Contact

To talk about WYAlgae or CAPSOIL, email AlanS801@outlook.com.