Microbial Inoculants: Effective Microorganisms (EM) & Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)

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

www.agri-synergy.comsteved@ipa.net