Microbial Inoculants:Effective Microorganisms (EM) &Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)
Resilient Farmer Workshop
April 27, 2013
Steve Diver, M.Sc.
Agri-Horticultural Consulting
www.agri-synergy.com
April 27, 2013
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Poteau, OK
Kerr Center’s morning Field Day, ResilientFarmer 2013 workshop:
Biochar
Thermophilic compost
Vermicompost
Fermented sweet potatoes for worms (IMO)
Aerated Compost Tea
Solo backpack bio-sprayer modifications
Fermented Plant Juice (IMO)
No-till vegetables with cover crops &
bio-intensive crop rotations
“Without living organisms and organic matter, the birthof soil is not possible” Kyoichi Kumada (1987)
Objectives for 1st afternoon seminar, ResilientFarmer 2013 workshop:
1. Mini review of soil organic matter (SOM) &1. Mini review of soil organic matter (SOM) &soil foodweb processes from 2012 workshop
2. Soil biology principles
3. Microbial inoculants in perspective
4. Effective Microorganisms (EM)
5. Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)
Foodweb pyramid in one square meter of soil
James B. Nardi, Life in the Soil, 2007
Soil Foodweb Diagram
Soil microorganisms live in association with plantroots and excrete nutrients & sticky substances
VAM mycorrhizal fungi onplant root: Paula Flynn
Alfalfa root with bacterialrhizosphere: Jennifer Fox
SOM = Soil Foodweb HabitatSOM = Soil Foodweb Habitat
Biochar for Improved SOM + SoilFoodweb Habitat in 2013 Workshop
Charcoal addition to thesoil provides nutrientand water storagecenter for mycorrhizalfungi
Charcoal is sought out by AM fungi
fungi
Their hyphae invadecharcoal pores andsupport sporereproduction
OgawaKansai Environmental
Fungi on New Char
Fungi on 100 Yr Old CharPhoto: www.eprida.com
Rapid colonization of charcoal surfaceby fungal hyphae (7 days old)
www.agri-synergy.com
Beneficial Properties of Biochar
• Habitat for soil microorganisms (e.g.,Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi)
• Increased soil carbon
• Increased CEC (cation exchange capacity)• Increased CEC (cation exchange capacity)
• Increased AEC (anion exchange capacity)
• Mimicking terra preta soil regeneration
Terra Preta soils, Amazonian Black Earth
Transformed “terra preta” Nutrient-poor Oxisol in tropics
Soil Biology Principle
The Number and Diversity of soil micro-organisms is both an indicator & a driverof soil fertiliy, biocontrol, and other soilfunctions.
Soil Fertility, Disease Suppression,Soil Structure, Humus, Soil Moisture
Lower Bacterial Diversity Higher Bacterial Diversity
Biological Control Concept
General Suppression
Abundance & Diversity of soil micro-organisms promotes soil fertility andbiological control; e.g., soil health (i.e.,biological control; e.g., soil health (i.e.,compost extracts)
Specific Suppression
Specific microbes are antagonistic to plantpathogenic organisms; e.g., biofungicides(i.e., microbial inoculants)
Worm Gold vermicompost tea extract
Photo: BBC Labs
Pathogen Inhibition Assay
Graeme Sait
Nutri-TechSolutions
Australia
Field Applications:
Microbe-Mineral
Blends & Brews
Fertigation
Foliars
Microbial Inoculants in Perspective
• Tool to manage soil biology, soil fertility,organic wastes, and create bio-fertilizers
• Can be used to manipulate the rhizosphere &phyllosphere (e.g., biological control of plantphyllosphere (e.g., biological control of plantdisease organisms)
• Increases the efficiency of deliverednutrients; can reduce fertilizer rate (e.g.,MEND concept)
• Not a “silver bullet”; still need minerals andSOM management for healthy crops
Introduction to EM and IMO
• Probiotics for human, animal, andenvironmental health
• Fermentation technologies
• Understanding aerobic & anaerobic systems• Understanding aerobic & anaerobic systems
• Multiple uses for treating soils, crops,livestock, organic wastes
• Transform raw materials into bio-fertilizers
Probiotics = Organisms or substances whichProbiotics = Organisms or substances whichcontribute to intestinal microbial balance and health
i.e., beneficial and effective microorganisms
Lactobacillus casei, L. brevis, L. kefir, L. acidophilus,Saccharomyces cerevisae, S. unisporus, S. turicensis,Steptococcus thermophilus
Fermented Probiotics = Kombucha & Water Kefir
EM (Effective Microorganisms)
Phototrophic bacteria Yeast
Lactic acid bacteriaActinomycetes
EM = Effective Microorganisms
•Developed by Dr. Teruo Higa, Univ. ofRyukyus in Okinawa, Japan
•Liquid microbial inoculant (shelf-stable)
•Mixed culture of naturally-occurring•Mixed culture of naturally-occurringbeneficial microorganisms
•Fermentative anaerobic + aerobicmicroorganisms co-existing symbiotically
Main Species of EM Microorganisms*
Lactic acid bacteria
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactococcus lactis
Photosynthetic bacteria
Actinomycetes
• Streptomycetes albus
• Streptomycetes griseus
Fermenting fungiPhotosynthetic bacteria
• Rhodopseudomonas palustrus
• Rhodobacter spaeroides
Yeasts
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• Candida utilis
• Aspergillus oryzae
• Mucor hiemalis
*early EM literature
Key Properties of EM
• Fermentative anaerobics
• Microbial functions
• Multiple farm uses• Multiple farm uses
• Antioxidative action of microbes
• Microbial metabolites
Putrefactive & FermentativeAnaerobics
Putrefaction:
Production of odors and harmful substances (hydrogensulfide, mercaptan, ammonia, oxidation substances) viaanaerobic microbial metabolism; pathogenic organisms.anaerobic microbial metabolism; pathogenic organisms.
Fermentation:
Production of useful substances (enzymes, amino acids,organic acids, anti-oxidative substances) via anaerobicmicrobial metabolism; beneficial organisms.
Microbial Pathways in Organic MatterDecomposition
1. Aerobic
E.g., Thermophilic compost
2. Putrefactive anaerobic2. Putrefactive anaerobic
E.g., Stinky organic wastes (non-managed)
3. Fermentative anaerobic
E.g., EM bokashi (managed)
Two Suppliers of EM & EM-like Cultures
TeraGanix (Texas)
www.teragamix.com
Effective Microorganisms (EM-1)Effective Microorganisms (EM-1)
SCD Probiotics (Missouri)
www.scdprobiotics.com
ProBio Balance “mother culture”
Bio Ag “ready-to-use”
Activated EM Recipe (AEM)
1:1:20 Recipe for AEM
Per 1 Gallon Per 5 Gallon
EM 3/4 C 4 CEM 3/4 C 4 C
Molasses 3/4 C 4 C
Water 14.5 C 72 C
Ferment = 2 weeks
pH = 3.5
Fermentation Box – keep it warm
Fermentation technology: bucket,airlock, sample thief
Using AEM in Agriculture
• Soil, organic mulches, cover crops
• Foliar fertilization & plant protection
• Fermented plant extracts
• Vermicompost integration• Vermicompost integration
• Food waste handling & composting
• Livestock probiotics: water & feed
• Livestock remediation: stalls, manures,lagoons
AEM Application Rates
Use AEM at Following Dilutions
1:50 manures, stalls
1:100 composts, stalls
1:250 soils1:250 soils
1:500 soils & foliar
1:1000 irrigation
1:2500 animal drinking water
Bokashi kitchen bucket tokeep food scraps fresh; thenadd to compost pile, or bury insoil, or feed to worm bin
EM Bran Bokashi
EM Bran Bokashi
Organic farm with packaged salad mix, Switzerland
Salad packing-shed waste, treated with EM
EM-treated salad waste, compost windrow feedstock
EM Bokashi Balls for bioremediation of pond waterin Africa
Photo: Ibo Zimmerman, Polytechnic of Namibia
Photo: Ibo Zimmerman, Polytechnic of Namibia
EM Microbial Cultures
AEM = Activated EM
FPE = Fermented Plant Extract
EM-5 = Foliar Pest Control
FF = Fermented FishFF = Fermented Fish
Bokashi = Fermented Organic Matter
EM-X = EM Antioxidant Beverage
EM Ceramics = Embedded EM
FPE = Fermented Plant Extracts
•Stinging nettle
•Comfrey
•Equisetum
Also called:
•Herbal teas
•Liquid manures
•Plant-based pest control
Comfrey
Plant Species for EM-FPE, Auroville
Turmeric Ginger
Tobacco Papaya
Custard Apple Vitex
Neem CalotropisNeem Calotropis
Onion Garlic
Aloe Tulsi
Pongam Euphorbia
*Table of EM-FPE for 64 different insects & diseases
EM-FPE for Pest Control
*Margarita Correa, Auroville in India
15 liters water
3 kg neem leaves3 kg neem leaves
250 g selected plant leaves (previous table)
450 ml EM
450 ml molasses
Close tight and ferment 5 days
Filter and store for 90 days of usage
Apply diluted 1:500
IMO = Indigenous Microorganisms
Korean Natural Farming: IndigenousMicroorganisms and Vital Power ofCrop/Livestock
Han Kyu Cho and Atsushi KoyamaHan Kyu Cho and Atsushi Koyama
Korean Natural Farming Association, 1997.172 p.
Cho’s Global Natural Farming (IMO)
IMO = No. 1, No. 2, No. 3
FFJ = Fermented Fruit Juice
FPJ = Fermented Plant Juice
FFJ = Fermented Fruit JuiceFFJ = Fermented Fruit Juice
FAA = Fish Amino Acid
LAS = Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum
OHN = Oriental Herbal Nutrients
BRV = Brown Rice Vinegar
Farm bamboo for multi-purpose agroforestry: IMO microbial culture
Bamboo leaf mulch and root exudates: IMO microbial culture
Farm-made Biofertilizers: Managing forFermentative Substrate & MicrobialCulture
Substrate (Raw Organic Biomass)
+ Microbes (Local or Purchased)
+ Microbial Food Source (Sugar)+ Microbial Food Source (Sugar)
= Fermentation & Extraction
= Bioavailable Nutrients
= Bioactive Substances
= Beneficial Microbes
Fermented Plant Juice (IMO) from Kerr Center herbs
Bioavailable nutrients + Bioactive substances + Beneficial microbes
Summary for 1st afternoon seminar, ResilientFarmer 2013 workshop:
1. Microorganisms perform multiple functionsand produce beneficial substances (enzymes,organic acids, hormones, anti-oxidants)
2. Managing SOM and thereby soil foodweb2. Managing SOM and thereby soil foodwebhabitat is the fundamental approach to soilhealth (plus soil testing and minerals)
3. Microbial inoculants are multi-purpose tools
4. EM and IMO are easy-to-use fermentativemicrobial systems with multiple on-farm uses
Thank You!Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
and USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation
Steve Diver, M.Sc.Agri-Horticultural Consulting
