And how to use it

March 25th, 2015

ECHO West Africa Anglophone Forum- Accra, Ghana

Stacy Reader – ECHO East Africa Technical Advisor

Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)

• What’s the difference between IMO and EM?

Teruo Higa Forest Soil

Advantages of using IMO

• To promote germination, growth, f lowering, fruiting and ripening.

• To enhance the photosynthetic capacity of plants. • To increase the efficacy of organic matter as

fertilizers. • To develop plant resistance to pests and diseases. • To improve the physical, chemical and biological

environment of the soil. • To suppress soil pathogens and pests. • Nitrogen fixation • Restore balance to soil ecology

Microorganisms

Cyanobacteria Tolypothrix sp.

Bacteria Bacillus subtills

Fungi Saccharomyces cereviceae

Making Smaller Scale IMO- Parent

$$$ COST $$$ • Cost of making 90L IMO- Liquid: $50

– $40 for molasses

– $10 start up cost for other supplies • (first time cost if don’t have already)

• Cost of 90L EM: $150 - $1,370 – High end if sourcing indirectly

IMO Method Percent of organic

matter in soil

requiring restoration

IMO Parent Microorganisms collected

locally More than 4%

IMO

Liquid IMO- Parent and sugar 1:1 3-4%

IMO

Carbohydrate IMO-Liquid and bran 1: 1,000 2-3%

IMO

Compost IMO-Carbohydrate and soil 1:1 1-2%

IMO

Manure IMO-Compost and manure 1:1 Less than 1%

What’s appropriate for my soil?

Bokashi

Advantages

• Requires little Labor and

Time

• Can be done on a small or

large scale

• Doesn’t produce bad odors

• Produces a ’slow-release’

fertilizer in your garden

• Works great as a partner

strategy to composting and

vermicomposting

• Can use ALL kitchen wastes,

(even meat & dairy)

• Can be used to make more

complex fertilizers

Disadvantages

• Need to make or buy

Bokashi mix

• Need at least a couple

buckets for continual

Bokashi batching

• ‘Finished’ material still

needs to be aged in soil or

compost bin before

beneficial for plants.

Supplies

Bucket & Airtight

Lid

Kitchen Scraps

Bran

IMO/EM

1. Sprinkled bottom of container with IMO/EM inoculated bran.

2. Add solid kitchen waste throughout the day

(meat and dairy is fine)

3. At the end of the day, sprinkle more inoculated bran

4. After a few days, the waste develops a pickled smell

5. Once the container is full, continue fermentation for at least 2 weeks

(It takes about 1 week to fill a five-gallon container for a family of 5)

6. The waste should look the same and may develop a white mold on top.

7. Bury the Bokashi in a hole in the garden 2-3 feet down. It is fairly acidic.

How to Make Bokashi

Bokashi Manure - Biofertilizer

Obtain a 1:1 plant/manure ratio

• 4 parts Bokashi

• 1 part wheat bran (fresh)

• 2 parts cow manure

• 2 parts goat manure

• 1 part chicken manure

Mix the plant material and manure with a 1:100 dilution of EM or IMO until 30-40% moisture is obtained

Store in an airtight container for 30 days before use

Use as fertilizer: 3g per plant (leafy vegetable)

5g per plant (non-leafy vegetable)

10g per plant (hardy perennial)

Fermented Amino Acids

• Chopped fish or other animal

• Molasses, equal in weight to the chopped fish or animal

• Container without holes

• Some way to seal opening of container

• Mesh bag (like the ones used for honey processing)

Making Fermented Amino Acids: Supplies

How to use?

$$$ COST $$$ • Cost of making 8 gallons FAA: $50

-$40 for molasses

-$10 start up cost for other supplies (first time cost if don’t have already)

• Cost of 8 gallons Fish emulsion: $103.04

References • Tancho, Arnat. Textbook in Natural Farming: Principles, Concepts &

Appropriate Techniques in Tropics. Maejo University. Thailand 2013.

• Jensen Helen, Leopoldo Guilaran, Rene Jaranilla & Gerry Garingalao . “Nature Farming Manual.” PABINHI 2006. http://www.reap-canada.com/online_library/IntDev/id_bokashi/Bokashi%20Nature%20Farming%20Manual%20(2006).pdf

• Rick Burnett-ECHO Director of Agriculture/Head of Agricultural Training

• Dr. Teruo Higa. An Earth Saving Revolution: Solutions to Problems in Agriculture, the Environment and Medicine. 1993. Sunmark Publishing.