Eco-agriculture

Effective Microorganisms

use in

commercial farming

EM = Effective Microorganisms

Reg No B4675

Act 36 or 1947

• A laboratory-cultured proprietary blend of

predominantly anaerobic organisms

• That co-exist, synergistically and symbiotically, which

benefit the environment to which they are introduced

• Ability to influence other beneficial soil microorganisms

by providing them food

• Able to ferment organic matter, exploit low oxygen

environment, and of atmospheric nitrogen fixation

• Makes for a cheap and complete bio-technology,

when you grow them

= appropriate technology

Lactobacillus YeastIndigenous

Co-existing

Symbiotic

Synergistic

Phototrophic

EM is a low cost tool

• Manipulate the phyllosphere (plant above ground)

and the rhizosphere (below ground)

• Increase nutrient delivery efficiency

• Suppress disease

• Improve general soil fertility

• Soil structure, water holding capacity

• Reduce input cost, increase profitability

• No scale constraint – use in large commercial

• Lactobacillus bacteria provide the other EM with a

safe environment within its lactic acid sphere

• Saccharomyces (yeast) do a similar thing to a lesser

extent.

• Within this (influence) sphere the Rhodopseudomonas

bacteria (phototroph) has the essential conditions needed

to survive and thrive

functional mode 1

Lactobacillus

• Develops lactic acid from sugars and

other carbohydrates developed by

phototrophic bacteria and yeast.

• Lactic acid is a strong sterilizing

compound which suppresses harmful

microorganisms and enhances the

decomposition of resistant matters

(cellulose etc.)

• Removes undesirable effects of

decomposition – putrefying odour

• Utilise amino acids and sugars

produced by phototrophic bacteria

and plant roots, and in organic matter

• Produces hormones and enzymes

• Are useful substrates for other

Effective Microorganisms – lactic acid

bacteria and actinomycetes

Saccharomyces

• Rhodopseudomonas are not only protected and

nurtured because they provide vital nutrients to the

other two organisms but mainly as they provide a

reducing atmosphere* (enable electron donation)

• The reducing atmosphere is replete with readily-available

hydrogen in the form of dissolved gases and various

hydrogen ions which enable the organisms to decompose

organic matter in a reducing manner as opposed to an

oxidising manner

functional mode 2

• Independent, self supporting microbes

• Produces useful substances from

organic matter, root secretions and

harmful gasses

• Develop amino acids, nucleic acids,

bioactive substances and sugars.

• Substances directly absorbed by plants,

promoting growth and development

• Increases the population of native

beneficial bacteria

Phototrophs

• EM not about filling a gap

• It is not a question of the having to little microbes

• The addition of EM causes a disturbance

• Required to change a static situation, remove or shift an

obstacle or displace a harmful influence (microbe, virus)

• The scale determines the speed of change

• Beneficial anaerobic process

• Clean-up disease carrying putrefactive zones

• Solubilise fixed nutrients, quicken OM decomposition

Motivation for use

The concept behind

Shifting the balance to suppress disease

Other functions

• Production of many plant beneficial substances

• enzymes, amino acids, hormones, organic acids,

antioxidants, chelation of minerals, bioflavonoids, and

vitamins

• Stimulates further ‘good’ microbial development

• Combat smells and reduction in flies benefit

The benefits of using beneficial

• Reduce input cost

• Reduce fertilizer need and improve use efficiency

• Reduce need for insecticides and fungicides

• Lift production output

• Better plant growth and larger crop

• Improve nutritional quality of produce

• Increase resilience and improve sustainability

• Increase soil water holding capacity (most limiting factor)

• Improve soil fertility and nutrient availability

• Increase rate of decomposition and SOC pool

EM applications

• Shift to beneficial soil microbial populations

• Base mixture for pest and disease suppressing

fermented plant extracts, nutrient solutions

• Compost, crop waste degradation

• Improving fertiliser efficiency

• Silage preservation

• Animal probiotic, and human probiotic (EM-X)

• Environment improver – odour control, sewerage,

waste water

Effects

• Maize – fertiliser combinations used with EM had a

highly significant effect on grain yield (Shah, 2001)

• Wheat - Significant increase found with ½

recommended dose of fertilizer (Hussain, 1999)

• Sugar cane - a reduction of 50% in fertilising

costs, increased sugar production, increased

profit by US$650 per hectare (Prinsloo, 2002)

• Experience and studies available showing positive

results for all fruits and vegetables

Risks

• Insufficient soil organic matter

• Tomato and banana wooden support poles eaten

• Soil becoming soft

• Stakes fall over when not planted deep enough

• Overdose of EM

• Nitrogen lock-up result in temporary leaf yellowing

• Oversized fruit and vegetables

• Poisoning due to excess mineral

• Case of locked up boron being made available to plant

• Do not start by applying more than 10L EM/ha per week

Users of

• Using EM for more than 10 years

• 1 000 000 litres (2013)

• Part of their “Natuurboerdery” practice

• Large-scale compost manufacture (50 000m³)

• Compost tea extract (1 500 000 litres)

• Minimum tilling

• Minimal use of inorganic products – fertilisers,

insecticides and fungicides

Mega farming enterprise

Largest tomato grower

Main findings

• Soil health has improved, SOC levels increased

• Inorganic product use for plant nutrition and

protection have decreased

• Significant cost savings- plant protection cost down by

50% and nutrition by 40%

• Yields increased– average open field tomato yield 100t/ha

(2015)

• Water availability has increased, and

• Energy spending has been reduced

Users of

Uitdraai Boerdery, DendronHuman du Preez

Using EM for 14 years

Users of

Uitdraai Boerdery, DendronHuman du Preez

Using EM for 14 years

Old sum New sum

100% Turnover/ha 110%

10% increase in crop

62% Production cost/ha 53%

35% current fertiliser and pest control/ha

25% saving on fertiliser and pest

9% production cost saving/ha

1% other resulting savings*

35% Overhead/ha 35%

97% Cost/ha as % of Turnover 88%

3% Profit/(Loss) per hectare 22%

* 1) Reduced irrigation cost due to better water retention,

2) Reduced fuel, maintenace and tractor hours due to better soil

ti lth

Achievable change

Make the change

“Farmers can quickly progress by improving life in the soil by keeping

the following principle in mind, stop killing things and provide them

with a home. Example: Our biggest achievement to date was to

eliminate the use of chemical soil fumigation, as this had by far the

most negative impact on the beneficial soil biological components. At

the same time the implementation of an effective integrated disease

management programme can go far to reduce the use of insecticide.

The use of other well-known ecological technologies such as crop

rotation and cover crops will also prevent many other problems.

Organic soil content has many advantages and farmers should strive for

its increase. Science and technology can significantly help with the

practice of ecologically friendly farming techniques.”

Stephanus Malherbe, laboratory manager of ZZ2, to ProAgri

Get the desired results

• The microbes are living organisms

• Keep them cool, store in shade (20 -25°C) and do not

freeze

• They need food, shelter, energy, water

• Provide them with a roof (mulch) for temperature control

and raindrop impact, organic matter to create airy rooms

• EM is not an instant all problem cure

• Integral part of a management strategy and process

focussed on building soil carbon content, and

stimulating natural organic and biological functions

Where can I start?

• Base management decisions on analysis & monitoring

• Leave or compost all crop residue, spray with EM

• Pre-planting apply as much organic amendments as

possible before inorganic

• For plant nutrition apply natural and organic foliar

amendments first

• First exhaust alternative pest and disease control

measures, thereafter

• least toxic chemical until control is achieved

• Raise the bar – do more!

What you can do!

• Not everyone has the capacity or scale of ZZ2

• Work together!

• Establish a community-based microbe brewery

serving local farmers

• Ease access, reduces supply risk and cost

• Talk to us if you would like to host a brewery

• Form study group

• Local knowledge is gold

• Experiment and provide feedback

• Help build programme and good practice

• Our agricultural vision

• Universal access to environment friendly products and services that

increase agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability

• Our goal

• Right choice, no fuss, easy to use soil, plant, pest and disease, and

animal solutions for farmers so as to ensure a future for bioSpur

• Our aim

• To support farmers in achieving profitable large-scale food

production whilst improving environmental integrity

The greatest of goals will come to naught without your support, tell us what we can do to serve

YOUYOUYOUYOU.

We need you!

Thank You

BioSpur your Southern Africa EM Distributor

For distribution or supply enquiries, please contact:

Marius Willemse

083 226 5281

mariuswillemse1@telkomsa.net

For technical questions, please contact:

Prof Koos Prinsloo

082 332 0370

www.em-sa.weebly.com