TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Composition: The activated organic matrix is composed of at least one wheat, barley or rye straw, ground, whole-grain barley grain or wheat bran. The organic matrix is activated by fermentation in the presence of beneficial saprophytic bacteria. The hydrolytic enzymes or the soluble humatic compounds are produced during the fermentation of the organic matrix by the beneficial saprophytic bacteria.The organic matrix comprises (wt.%): wheat straw and wheat bran (10-75), other straw or grain products (10-75) and barley and grain (10-98). The composition is a dry granulated fermentation product.Preferred Method: The method additionally involves chopping the organic matrix into pieces of 2-5 cm in length prior to addition of water. Additional nutrients are added to the organic matrix to accelerate growth of bacteria and buffering salts are added to the matrix to control pH for optimum growth prior to steam pasteurization. After drying, the organic matrix is grind to create a dried granular fermentation product. ACTIVITY - Antialgal.    An activated barley formulation containing AquaClear (RTM; bioaugmentation product) and 70 weight % of activated barley product was used to treat an ornamental pond exhibiting a high green algae population. Two days after treatment, nitrate levels decreased 20%, and after 4 days, by 66.7%. Water clarity, as measured by visibility, also increased by 2.5 feet. It was readily apparent that green algae growth had decreased significantly as a result of the treatment.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS - The use of Bacillus subtilis; B. licheniformis; B. amyloliquefaciens; Paenibacillus polymyxa; B. megaterium; B. psychrophilus; B. globiformis; B. psychrosaccharolyticus; B. benzovorans; B. vallismortis; B. mojavensis; B. stearothermophilus; and B. acidopullyticus is specifically claimed as the beneficial saprophytic bacteria.    EXAMPLE - A dry organic matrix substrate was mixed with water (approximately 1 part by weight) per substrate (2 parts by weight) and conveyed by screw conveyer to stainless steel cookers with augers for material mixing and movement, which were equipped with live steam injection nozzles. This initial mixing was performed to moisten the mixture. The substrate was pasteurized at 100 - 105 degrees C in the presence of saturated steam for 30-40 minutes. During this time, the moisture content of the substrate was increased to approximately 40 wt.%. The substrate was then cooled until the temperature of the substrate was less than 45 degrees C. A previously prepared liquid inoculum of saprophytic bacteria selected from the spore-forming Bacillus genus Bacillus subtilis was blended onto the substrate. At this time, the moisture level of the inoculated substrate was 48-55 wt.%.    The inoculated straw substrate was placed upon perforated stainless steel or aluminum trays in layers approximately 4-5 cm in thickness. The trays were placed upon racks equipped with rollers that allow conveyance into a temperature and humidity controlled chamber. The inoculated straw substrate was confined in the chamber for about 30 hours under high humidity conditions. During this time period, the bacterial inoculum grew to approximately 2x10 to the power of 9 colony forming units/gram (CFU/g). Hydrolytic enzymes were produced and excreted by the bacteria and hydrolytic digestion and solubilization of the non-cellulosic humatic components of the straw occurred. The humidity was reduced and the temperature increased to 40 degrees C. At this temperature, under low humidity, the solubilized humatic components of the straw, the straw substrate, and the beneficial bio-augmentative bacteria were immobilized and attached to the straw substrate and dehydrated to no more than 12% moisture content.    The dried material formed was composed of cellulosic remaining matrix of straw substrate, viable bio-augmentative saprophytic bacteria, the hydrolytic enzymes and the hydrolyzed and solubilized humatic components of the straw substrate. The dried product was ground resulting in comminution of the integrated product into granular, homogenous powder.