6. Soil microorganisms live in association with plant
roots and excrete nutrients & sticky substances
VAM mycorrhizal fungi on
plant root: Paula Flynn
Alfalfa root with bacterial
rhizosphere: Jennifer Fox
7. SOM = Soil Foodweb HabitatSOM = Soil Foodweb Habitat
9. Charcoal addition to the
soil provides nutrient
and water storage
center for mycorrhizal
fungi
Charcoal is sought out by AM fungi
fungi
Their hyphae invade
charcoal pores and
support spore
reproduction
Ogawa
Kansai Environmental
Fungi on New Char
Fungi on 100 Yr Old CharPhoto: www.eprida.com
10. Rapid colonization of charcoal surface
by fungal hyphae (7 days old)
www.agri-synergy.com
12. Terra Preta soils, Amazonian Black Earth
Transformed “terra preta” Nutrient-poor Oxisol in tropics
13. Soil Biology Principle
The Number and Diversity of soil micro-
organisms is both an indicator & a driver
of soil fertiliy, biocontrol, and other soil
functions.
Soil Fertility, Disease Suppression,
Soil Structure, Humus, Soil Moisture
15. Biological Control Concept
General Suppression
Abundance & Diversity of soil micro-
organisms promotes soil fertility and
biological control; e.g., soil health (i.e.,biological control; e.g., soil health (i.e.,
compost extracts)
Specific Suppression
Specific microbes are antagonistic to plant
pathogenic organisms; e.g., biofungicides
(i.e., microbial inoculants)
18. 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 plant
disease organisms)
• Increases the efficiency of delivered
nutrients; can reduce fertilizer rate (e.g.,
MEND concept)
• Not a “silver bullet”; still need minerals and
SOM management for healthy crops
19. Introduction to EM and IMO
• Probiotics for human, animal, and
environmental 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
20. Probiotics = Organisms or substances whichProbiotics = Organisms or substances which
contribute 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
23. EM = Effective Microorganisms
•Developed by Dr. Teruo Higa, Univ. of
Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan
•Liquid microbial inoculant (shelf-stable)
•Mixed culture of naturally-occurring•Mixed culture of naturally-occurring
beneficial microorganisms
•Fermentative anaerobic + aerobic
microorganisms co-existing symbiotically
24. Main Species of EM Microorganisms*
Lactic acid bacteria
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactococcus lactis
Photosynthetic bacteria
Actinomycetes
• Streptomycetes albus
• Streptomycetes griseus
Fermenting fungi
Photosynthetic bacteria
• Rhodopseudomonas palustrus
• Rhodobacter spaeroides
Yeasts
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• Candida utilis
• Aspergillus oryzae
• Mucor hiemalis
*early EM literature
25. Key Properties of EM
• Fermentative anaerobics
• Microbial functions
• Multiple farm uses• Multiple farm uses
• Antioxidative action of microbes
• Microbial metabolites
26. Putrefactive & Fermentative
Anaerobics
Putrefaction:
Production of odors and harmful substances (hydrogen
sulfide, mercaptan, ammonia, oxidation substances) via
anaerobic microbial metabolism; pathogenic organisms.anaerobic microbial metabolism; pathogenic organisms.
Fermentation:
Production of useful substances (enzymes, amino acids,
organic acids, anti-oxidative substances) via anaerobic
microbial metabolism; beneficial organisms.
28. 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”
29. 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
43. 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
44. FPE = Fermented Plant Extracts
•Stinging nettle
•Comfrey
•Equisetum
Also called:
•Herbal teas
•Liquid manures
•Plant-based pest control
Comfrey
45. 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
46. 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
47. IMO = Indigenous Microorganisms
Korean Natural Farming: Indigenous
Microorganisms and Vital Power of
Crop/Livestock
Han Kyu Cho and Atsushi KoyamaHan Kyu Cho and Atsushi Koyama
Korean Natural Farming Association, 1997.
172 p.
48.
49. 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
50. Farm bamboo for multi-purpose agroforestry: IMO microbial culture
59. Fermented Plant Juice (IMO) from Kerr Center herbs
Bioavailable nutrients + Bioactive substances + Beneficial microbes
60. Summary for 1st afternoon seminar, Resilient
Farmer 2013 workshop:
1. Microorganisms perform multiple functions
and produce beneficial substances (enzymes,
organic acids, hormones, anti-oxidants)
2. Managing SOM and thereby soil foodweb2. Managing SOM and thereby soil foodweb
habitat is the fundamental approach to soil
health (plus soil testing and minerals)
3. Microbial inoculants are multi-purpose tools
4. EM and IMO are easy-to-use fermentative
microbial systems with multiple on-farm uses
61. Thank You!
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
and USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation
Steve Diver, M.Sc.
Agri-Horticultural Consulting
www.agri-synergy.com
steved@ipa.net