Microorganismos benefios y su

relacion con los inoculantes

microbianos en agricultura
Stephen Diver
www.attra.ncat.org | 800-346-9140
steved@ncat.org

Centro Nacional para Tecnologia

Apropiada
On-Farm Beneficial Microbe Cultures
CT = Compost Teas
EM = Effective Microorganisms
FPE = Fermented Plant Extracts
MI = Mycorrhizal Inoculants
 Substrate & Microbial Culture
Substrate (raw organic material)
+ Native microflora or microbial inoculant
+ Add sugar as microbial food source
= Extraction + Fermentation

= Soluble Nutrients
= Bioactive Substances
= Beneficial Microorganisms
 Soil Biology Concepts
Rhizosphere + Phyllosphere

Biologically active plant zones

Nutrient uptake
Biological control of diseases
Distribution of micro-organisms in the rhizosphere
Trichomes + glandular secretion, Lavendar leaf
CMM, The University of Queensland
Compost tea increases leaf surface microbial populations
 Soil Biology Concepts
General Suppression
Abundance & Diversity of
microorganisms results in soil
fertility and biological control; e.g.,
compost teas

Specific Suppression
Specific microbes are antagonistic to
certain plant pathogenic organisms;
e.g., biopesticides
 EM = Effective Microorganisms
Developed by Dr. Teruo Higa, Univ. of
Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan
Liquid microbial inoculant, stock
solution
Mixed culture of naturally-occurring
beneficial microorganisms
Fermentative anaerobic + aerobic
microorganisms co-existing
symbiotically
 Main Species of EM
Microorganisms
Lactic acid bacteria Actinomycetes
Lactobacillus plantarum Streptomycetes albus
Lactobacillus casei Streptomycetes griseus
Lactococcus lactis Fermenting fungi
Photosynthetic bacteria Aspergillus oryzae
Rhodopseudomonas palustrus Mucor hiemalis
Rhodobacter spaeroides
Yeasts
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Candida utilis
 Lactic Acid Bacteria

The barrier of Lactic Acid

Keeps Harmful Microbes away
 Yeast

The Bioactive Substances such as Hormones

and Enzymes produced by Yeasts
Promote Active Cell and Root Division
 Phototrophic Bacteria
Hydrogen Sulfide

Kitchen Garbage,
Animal Shed,
Sludge etc. Odorless
Ammonia

Offensive
Smell

Decompose Harmful Gases Such as

Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide
Changing them into Odorless Gases
Lactic Acid Bacteria + Phototrophic Bacteria + Yeast

This combination is SYNERGISTIC

 Fermentation and Putrefaction
Fermentation:
Production of useful substances (alcohol, amino
acids, organic acids and anti-oxidation substances)
via metabolism of microorganisms; beneficial
organisms.

Putrefaction:
Production of harmful substances (hydrogen sulfide,
mercaptan, ammonia, oxidation substances) via
metabolism of microorganisms; pathogenic
organisms.
 Activated EM Dilution Rates
1:20 Recipe for AEM
EM = 3/4 cup
Molasses = 3/4 cup
Water = 1 gallon
Ferment = 4-7 days
Ready when pH drops to 3.7
Use AEM at Following Dilutions
1:50
1:100
1:500
1:1000
 Two Primary Suppliers of EM
Sustainable Community Development in
Kansas City, MO
www.scdworld.com

EMRO-USA in Tuscon, AZ
www.emrousa.com
 EM Retail Pricing
Recipe Price from SCD in Kansas City, MO
1 liter = $11.95
1 gallon = $17.45
5 gallons = $43.95
55 gallons = $1,500

250 gallon tote is available

Wholesale prices are available for 55 and 250

gallons
EM 250 gallon tote
 Uses of AEM
Irrigation injection
Foliar fertilization & plant protection
Fermented plant extracts
Compost integration
Vermicompost integration
Handling of food wastes
Livestock probiotics: water & feed
Livestock stalls, manures, lagoons
 Application of EM
As a Liquid..
Activated EM Solution
EM-Fermented Plant Extract

As a Solid..

EM Bokashi
Fermented grains act as microbial inoculant
 EM Bokashi
bokashi = fermented organic matter

EM Bokashi
EM inoculated wheat bran
Dry, sweet fermenty smell
Ready-to-use for food scraps
and animal feed
Stored in buckets or barrels
 FPE = Fermented Plant Extracts
Stinging nettle
Comfrey
Equisetum

Also called:
Herbal teas
Liquid manures
Plant-based pest control
Stinging Nettle
 EM-FPE for Pest Control
Margarita Correa, Auroville in India
15 liters water
3 kg neem leaves
250 g selected plant leaves
450 ml of EM stock solution
450 g of cane jaggery (sugar)
Close tight and ferment 4-5 days
Filter
Apply diluted 1:500
Plant Species for EM-FPE, Auroville
Turmeric Ginger
Tobacco Papaya
Custard Apple Vitex
Neem Calotropis
Onion Garlic
Aloe Tulsi
Pongam Euphorbia

*Table of EM-FPE for 64 different insects & diseases

EM Special Culture Recipes
EM-FF = Fermented Fish
EM-FPE = Fermented Plant Extract
EM-FCM = Fermented Chicken Manure
EM Bokashi = Fermented organic matter
EM5 Insect & Disease Suppressant
EM, molasses, vinegar, alcohol
EM 3-in-1
EM5 + herbal extracts
 EM Research
EM Database
www.emtechnologynetwork.org

600 papers, research reports, proceedings

 Development of Integrated Livestock
Production System with EM Technology
in the Swine Farm of Maroto Castillo S.A.,
the Biggest Swine Farm in Costa Rica

Luciano Machado

M.O. ECO SOLUCIONES S.A.

Costa Rica Central America
EM Application in Hog Housing
EM APPLICATION BY
MICROSPRAYER
Apply 200 liters of Activated EM at 5%
dilution per day
Results

Reduced foul odors

Improved respiratory problems
Reduced the chemical use by 50%
Reduced labor costs
Efficient EM application
 EM Application in Hog Housing
EM APLICATION IN
DRINKING WATER
Apply activated EM with medicinal
plants extract (garlic, ginger, etc)
with dilution of 1:2000

Results

Reduced diarrhea caused by harmful

bacteria and mechanical diarrhea

Improved in physical appearance,

skin, hair, color and eyes

Improved pig behavior

 EM Application in Hog Housing
EM APPLICATION IN
FLUSHING TANKS

Daily applications of Activated EM

with dilution of 1:1000
Results
Easy to clean up
Excretions are flushed with the
minimum amount of water
Flushed water ends up in the waste
treatment system as pre-inoculated
with EM
 Management of Solid Swine Waste
SOLID WASTE SEPARATOR
When the waste (excrements, urine,
water) from the facility reaches the
separtor, it is already pre-fermented
with EM

The solid waste comes out from the

separator with the 35% moisture
content and a pleasant odor (fermented
sweet & sour)

No foul odor and flies

 Management of Cattle Manure
EM APLICATION IN THE
CATTLE SHED
Total area of 2000 m2 with the
capacity of 600 animals.

Bedding of saw dust 10 - 15 cm

thick.

Daily application of activated

EM at 3% dilution.
 IM = Indigenous Microorganisms
Korean Natural Farming: Indigenous
Microorganisms and Vital Power of
Crop/Livestock

Han Kyu Cho and Atsushi Koyama

Korean Natural Farming Association,

1997. 172 p.
 IMO No. 1
Boiled rice laid on soil (oak forest)
IMOs grow on rice
Add molasses 1 week later, 1:1 ratio
Dilute 1:20, let sit 1 week
Strain & store as liquid IMO stock
Use 2 tbs/gal
Spray on compost, soil, plants
 KNFA Special Cultures
IMO = No. 1, No. 2, No. 3
FFJ = Fermented Fruit Juice
FPJ = Fermented Plant Juice
FAA = Fish Amino Acid
BRV = Brown Rice Vinegar
OHN = Oriental Herbal Nutrients
LAS = Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum
Organic Agriculture in Korea
Chung-Nong-Hae (Right Farming), 1976

Korea Organic Farming Assoc (KOFA),

1978, 18,000 farms

Korean Natural Farming Assoc (KNFA),

1986, 6,500 farms (roots in early 1960s)

Development, Current Issues and Prospects of Organic Agriculture

in Korea, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
 Natural Farming
Local resources
biomass, plants, IMOs, sugars
Local recipes
plant extracts, special cultures
Local ideas
Nature as a model
 The Power of Duck: Integrated Rice
and Duck Farming by Takao Furuno

The idea makes all the difference (Weeds and

Insects exist for the sake of the Rice Plants).
 On-Farm Mycorrhizal Inoculation
USDA-ARS + Rodale Institute in PA
Compost + Vermiculite nursery mix
Container production
Bahiagrass plant as host
Commercial mycorrhizal inoculant
Colonize roots & increase mycorrhizal
inoculum throughout nursery mix
Use farm-grown MI-nursery mix in pots,
planting beds, transplant holes
The Power of Leaf Mould
Components of Compost Extracts
Soluble nutrients
Liquid organic fertilizer
Bioactive substances
Plant growth-promoting
Humic, amino acids, hormones
Plant protecting
Phenols, antibiotics
Beneficial microorganisms
Foodweb diversity, biomass, antagonists
Colonization & competition
Microbial metabolites
Uses of Microbial Cultures &
Plant Extracts
To transform organic wastes into
fertilizers
To extract nutrients
To promote plant growth
To suppress insects & diseases
To control flies and odors