The Technology Of Effective Microorganisms
Case Studies of Application
U.R.Sangakkara
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya
20400, Sri Lanka
ABSTRACT
The technology of Effective Microorganisms (commonly termed EM
Technology) was developed in the 1970s at the University of the Ryukyus,
Okinawa, Japan. The inception of the technology was based on blending a
multitude of microbes, and was subsequently refined to include three principal
types of organisms commonly found in all ecosystems, namely Lactic Acid
Bacteria, Yeast Actinomyces and Photosynthetic bacteria. These were blended in a
molasses or sugar medium and maintained at a low pH under ambient
conditions.
The technology was introduced to the world through an
International Conference held in Thailand in 1989, where a research program to
test its efficacy was undertaken by 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Thereafter, this program encompassed many international fora, including the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
The original concept of using EM in crop production, primarily
in organic systems to overcome the inherent problems such as low productivity
was well proven in many environments. Thus the technology spread gradually to
all continents.
Today EM is used in many systems pertaining to agriculture and
environmental management. These range from crop and animal production systems,
to livestock and aquaculture units. EM is used widely in environmental
management for decomposition and more importantly for recycling of wastes, both
solids and liquids. More recently research from Japan and projects in the USA
have reported the ability of EM based products to reduce dioxin contents.
The programs on EM undertaken in over 60 countries show its
success. The initial research undertaken in agriculture paved the way for case
studies and large-scale use of EM in a diverse range of environments. These
include laboratory scale identification of the microbes and their role in the
DPR Korea, to the use of the solution in crop production in over 500,000
hectares in the same country. It is used in the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, Mid
and South America and Oceania in a multitude of ways. The reports from these
projects highlight successes although some do show marginal results. The
important aspect has been its use by practitioners, who adopt technologies due
to proven successes and not research reports. The presentation will cover the
practical benefits of using EM on the basis of research results and case studies
where the solution has been used extensively for either agriculture or
environmental management.
INTRODUCTION
The 21st century has dawned, with renewed hope for a
,brbetter livelihood for the populations of this earth. Hence the themes often
discussed at international fora on human welfare and agriculture range from
sustainability, food security and safety to the provision of a productive and
healthy environment to humankind and its future generations. Hence there is
often a great deal of optimism about the possibilities of solving the multitude
of problems in relation to the provision of food and a clean healthy environment
for all.
Although the picture being painted seems rosy with numerous
possibilities, the reality is not that simple. The future is not too optimistic.
The post war agricultural revolution has brought about problems of pollution,
which are increasing in magnitude, although the agricultural development
projects have increased yields in both developed and developing countries. The
problems also arise from over production of agricultural commodities in the
developed countries, while inadequate production and unequal distribution of
food and resources in the developing countries is a common phenomenon. There is
excessive pollution caused by industrialized agriculture, loss of biodiversity
and increased incidence of pests and diseases. The use of genetically modified
organisms has raised concerns about food safety. All these problems need
solutions to maintain and possibly enhance the quality of the environment and
provision of food for humankind and also all forms of life on earth (HRH The
Prince of Wales, 1998).
ORGANIC OR NATURE FARMING
Organic or nature farming is considered a possible solution to
many of the problems caused by industrialized agriculture (Litterick et al,
2001). This is based on the fact that organic or nature farming is a holistic
concept, involving all components of the ecosystem. Hence organic and nature
farming are considered useful and sustainable systems to produce safe and
quality food, both in the developed and developing world.
Organic farming in the developing world is viewed as a system
of alternative agriculture, which could enhance the quality of degraded
environments currently farmed intensively by smallholders to produce food and
fodder. In the recent past, organic products have also become export
commodities, which earn much-needed foreign exchange to these countries. In all
instances, organic farming alone may not provide the required quantities of
food, although it certainly has the potential of improving the environment and
more importantly, the sustainability of the farming systems.
A primary problem of organic or nature farming is the low
yields procured, when compared to that of conventional chemical farming systems.
This is principally observed in the developing countries. Hence the promotion
and development of organic systems in these regions must be coupled with
technologies that would enhance yields while preserving and possibly improving
the sustainability of the systems and also the environment.
MICROBES IN AGRICULTURE
Microbes are a vital component in all ecosystems. In
agriculture, their value cannot be overemphasized, due to their role in the soil
and as an interlink between the biotic and abiotic components and also between
the grazing and detritus food chains. However, their role has often been
neglected in conventional chemical farming systems. The interaction between
microbes and plants developed with the process of evolution in plants, and hence
the use of microbes singly or in mixtures of free living and naturally occurring
species could enhance the productivity of most farming systems significantly
(Zarb et al, 2001). Thus the most importance and often-used species of microbes
in agriculture are Fungi, Bacteria, Actinomyces and Yeast.
Although the use of microbes in the form of animal manure and
slurries has a long history in traditional agriculture, the use of Rhizobium and
Mycorrhizal inoculation added a new dimension to the technology of
microorganisms in agriculture. In the recent times, research has clearly shown
the benefits of using inoculations of naturally occurring microbes in increasing
productivity of both conventional and organic farming systems (Tisdal, 1994,
Zarb et al, 2001). However, the use of microbial inoculation containing many
species obtained from the respective ecosystems to develop multiple benefits has
not received much attention.
THE TECHNOLOGY OF EFFECTIVE
MICROORGANISMS
Fungi, Bacteria, Actinomyces and Yeast are found in all
ecosystems. They are used widely in the food industry, and these species play a
vital role in agriculture to maintain and also enhance productivity (Zarb et al,
2001). The technology of Effective Microorganisms (EM) also uses these species
namely Lactic Acid Bacteria, Photosynthetic Bacteria, Yeast and Actinomyces
isolated from the respective environments in which EM is used.
Professor Dr Teruo Higa developed the technology of EM in the
1970s at the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. The first solutions
contained over 80 species from 10 genera isolated from Okinawa and other
environments in Japan. With time, the technology was refined to include only the
four important species cited earlier, namely Lactic Acid Bacteria,
Photosynthetic Bacteria, Actinomyces and Yeast. These are isolated from the
respective locations where EM is used extensively and is blended into a mixture
in a sugar-based medium. The sugar commonly used is molasses or raw sugar, and
the solution is maintained a low pH ranging between 3 .0 4.0 The mixture does
not contain any organism imported from Japan, nor does it contain any
genetically modified organisms. Hence, EM is made in over 40 countries in all
continents, from species isolated from the different localities. The technology
is thus safe, effective and environmentally friendly, and is accessible to
farmers in both developed and developing countries. On this basis, the
technology is used or researched upon in countries ranging from Austria to
Zimbabwe.
PRACTICAL USES OF EM
The practical uses of EM can broadly be classified into two
principal components
- Agriculture
- Environmental Management
The research programs and case studies on the benefits of EM in
these two principal components have been reported from all continents of the
world. However, a setback in the wide scale publicity of these very useful
studies has been the lack of publications in international journals, due to the
emphasis on one particular product. Most studies have been reported at two fora,
namely the International Conferences of IFOAM (International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements) beginning 1987 and the International Conferences
on Kyusei Nature Farming beginning in 1989. However, the usefulness and
potential values of the technology is accepted internationally as shown by the
development of separate sessions on EM at the IFOAM conferences beginning in New
Zealand in 1994.
EM IN AGRICULTURE
The original use of EM was for agriculture. Hence EM was first
applied to enhance productivity of organic or nature farming systems. EM was
applied directly onto organic matter added to cropping fields, or to compost,
which reduced the time required for the preparation of this biofertilizer. EM is
also added in the form of Bokashi (Compost) made with waste material such as
rice husk and saw dust as a carrier, mixed with nitrogen rich material such as
rice, corn or wheat bran, fish meal or oil cakes.
The studies on the success of EM in crop production are many.
Research on papaya in Brazil (Chagas et al, 2001), herbage grasses in Holland
and Austria (Bruggenwert, 2001, Hader, 2001), vegetables in New Zealand and Sri
Lanka (Daly and Stewart, 1999, Sangakkara and Higa, 2000) and apples in Japan
(Fujita, 2000) illustrates this phenomenon very clearly. All these studies are
examples of a multitude of projects and they clearly highlight that the use of
EM or EM based products such as Bokashi increase yields of traditional organic
systems over a period of time.
The causal phenomenon of these results has been attributed to
many factors. These include greater release of nutrients from organic matter
when composted with EM (Sangakkara and Weerasekera, 2001) enhanced
photosynthesis (Xu et al, 2001) and protein activity (Konoplya and Higa, 2001).
Studies also identify greater resistance to water stress (Xu, 2000), greater
mineralization of carbon (Daly and Stewart, 1999) and increased soil properties
(Hussein et al 2000) and better penetration of roots (In Ho and Ji Hwan, 2001)
with the use of EM.
The impact of EM in promoting plant growth by controlling or
suppressing pests and diseases has also been reported from many countries.
Kremer et al (2001) reports the control of Sclerotinia in turf grass with EM.
Guest (1999) and Wang et al (2000) highlight the control of Phytopthora with EM
derivatives in China and Australia Wood et al (1999) also states the control of
pickleworm in cucumber with EM. The control of black Sigatoka with EM is a
success in Costa Rica (Elango et al, 1999). These are just a handful of many
reports that present the success of EM in crop production. More importantly, all
these highlight the benefits of EM in a wide range of environments. which is the
key to its success and adaptability.
The use of EM in animal husbandry is also clearly identified in
many parts of the world. Studies in Asia where EM was first introduced and is
used extensively (e.g. Chantsawang and Watcharangkul, 1999) and in Belarus
(Konoplya and Higa 2000) report the successful use of EM in poultry and swine
units. EM is added to feed and sprayed for sanitation in these units. Integrated
animal units and poultry farms in South Africa (Hanekon et al, 2001, Safalaoh
and Smith, 2001) use EM to increase productivity. Swine units and fish units in
Austria also use EM for procuring greater productivity (Hader, 2000).
The causal phenomenon of these has also been identified in
research projects. These are greater physiological activity in animals and
better feed conversion efficiencies (Safalaoh and Smith, 2001, Konoplya and
Higa, 2000).
As cited earlier, the reports on EM in increasing the
productivity of animal units are numerous. The setback in further progress is
the lack of international publications of these studies, although carried out in
a systematic and scientific manner. However the benefits are clearly identified
as exemplified by the adoption of the technology by farmers and producers
despite warning by skeptical scientists. This is the final judgement of the
success of the technology for agriculture.
EM IN ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
The management of the environment is a key and controversial
issue in modern agriculture. The disposal of farm wastes, the discharge of
polluted waters and the mitigation of dioxin developed through incineration or
disintegration of wastes are all problems faced by humankind. Thus legislation
is being introduced in many countries to preserve the existing environment and
possibly improve it.
The role of EM in environmental management is of significant
importance. This microbial solution, which was originally developed for nature
or organic farming systems, was further expanded to overcome environmental
issues, thereby facilitating the reuse of most wastes.
The first concept of using EM in environmental management was
in the process of composting. Crop residues and animal wastes were effectively
composted to produce biofertilizers. Research in Holland (e.g. van Bruchem et
al, 1999), and Shintani et al (2000) in Costa Rica highlight the potential of
making compost with animal or crop wastes, this increasing yields of crops
supplied with this material, over the productivity of traditional organic
systems.
The use of EM in composting garbage developed in the mid 1990s
and very successful projects have been undertaken in Asia. A good example is
that of Hanoi Vietnam (Quang, 2000), under the purview of the Ministry of
Science, Technology an Environment of that country. The city garbage is
composted with EM and sold as fertilizers. A similar project is being undertaken
in Yangon, Myanmar. The city of Pusan in Korea uses EM in over 500 apartments to
compost kitchen wastes, which are recycled into home gardens, in a project
undertaken by the Red Cross. The city of Christchurch in New Zealand is also
undertaking a similar project, which will be a field site at the International
Conference on EM in January 2002.
EM is also being used effectively in purifying water for reuse.
The best example of this is in Okinawa the home of EM. The city library of
Gushikawa uses EM very effectively in treating sewage water, which is recycled
for the garden and in toilets. The COD and BOD of the water are reduced
significantly when treated with EM (Okuda and Higa, 1999) and this water is
reused, thus saving costs and energy.
A very recent project on using EM in water treatment is in the
Gold Coast of Australia, in the city of Mc Kay. The city sewage system is
treated with EM and oxygen and the quality of water enhanced prior to discharge.
A resort island uses EM for its water treatment and this water is recycled into
gardens with no smell. The quality of water is well within the stringent
environmental laws of Australia, and this study will be presented in New Zealand
next year.
Research in South Africa also highlight the potential of using
EM for treating pig manure prior to feeding fish (Hanekon et al, 2001). Addition
of EM to pig fed promoted growth of the animals. Application of EM to manure
reduced faecal bacterial counts and feeding this manure to fish increase
harvestable produce.
Although not recorded, there are many projects using EM for
waste management in many countries. Amongst all the practitioners of EM, the
best example is at the Nature farm in Sara Buri, Thailand, where EM is used for
cropping, livestock, and waste management. Unfortunately these results have not
been recorded as it is a practical farm used extensively for training people
from Thailand and overseas on EM technology, at no cost to the trainees.
The most recent studies with EM on environmental management
produced very interesting results. If repeatable, these would have a significant
impact on the enhancement of environmental quality. The first is a study from
Belarus, which illustrate the ability of EM to reduce radioactive contamination
in affected soils (Konoplya, 1999). Application of EM increased uptake of Cs137
from contaminated soils of Chernobyl. The destruction of these crops would
reduce the level of contamination in the soils. In addition, the use of EMx, a
derivative of EM, which has antioxidant properties, was seen to act as a
radioprotective agent.
The second and third studies relate to the reduction of dioxin
production. A pilot study in the USA (Kozawa 2000) showed that the use of EM
could reduce dioxin production. More importantly, a study by Miyajima et al
(2001) in Okinawa, report that using EM in a commercial incinerator reduced the
production of dioxin. These suggest valuable lines for research ad acceptance
for the future.
CONCLUSIONS
The potential of EM in agriculture and environmental management
is significant. The technology can be used easily and economically to enhance
productivity of agricultural systems, especially organic systems and in
mitigating environmental pollution.
While successful projects are being implements in many
countries even at national scale as in Myanmar, D P R Korea, Vietnam and
Thailand, and by non governmental organizations as in Sri Lanka, India and
Indonesia or on a more localized scale by private organizations such as New
Zealand nature farming Societies, Agriton of Holland, EMROSA of Africa, a
setback has been the lack of proper exposure and recording of results. The users
see the benefits of EM and there is a very growing demand for EM. This calls for
the maintenance of good records of its success and effects, although the users
often state "We know its benefits Why record it?"
In this story of success, one also needs to be cautious in
using EM. It is not a means or answer to all problems, although it has a
significant role to play in agriculture and environmental management. As in all
techniques, EM must also be used diligently and with care, as per guidelines.
Failure to do so would produce negative results as in some instances, which have
also been given publicity. However, adoption of the technology of EM will ensure
the achievement of the objective Where all humans of this world strive for
Greater production of agricultural systems on a sustainable basis and a cleaner
environment for humankind and its future generations.
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Also available in 5 gallon, 55 gallon, and 275 gallon sizes - call us for details.
Effective Microorganisms Beneficial Microbial Concentrate One Gallon Box
Item #EMF-EM-01
$45.00
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