How to use living bacteria (EM) as bio-fertilizer

Effective Microorganisms (EM) are mixed cultures of beneficial naturally-occurring organisms that can be applied as inoculants to increase the microbial diversity of soil ecosystem. They consist mainly of the photosynthesizing bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes and fermenting fungi. These microorganisms are physiologically compatible with one another and can coexist in liquid culture. There is evidence that EM inoculation to the soil can improve the quality of soil, plant growth and yield.

According to the confirmed data, the use of Baikal EM-1 leads to a significant change in the microbiological composition of the soil and the improvement of its properties. Here is what happens:

      • the growth and development of cultivated plants is accelerated;
      • eliminates unpleasant odors that occur during the decomposition of organic matter, which allows the use of the tool in septic tanks;
      • flowers bloom lush and brighter;
      • significantly improves the taste of products;
      • increasing the yield of the crop;
      • shoots appear together and faster;
      • significantly enhanced plant immunity, their ability to resist minor damage;
      • plants tolerate dry periods more easily;
      • soil fertility is restored and increased;
      • the content of nitrates in the crop decreases, salts of heavy metals are neutralized.

Please learn how to prepare the EM1 substratum, EM1 solution and EM1 compost: https://ecominded.net/effective-microorganisms-em-technology-in-plants

A friend of mine makes EM, and he's gotten amazing results.  He uses it in spray form, has increased tree crop production, started new plants that shot out ahead of others.  

What he makes doesn't have anything to with "technology."  It's as organic as it gets.  But maybe that's just a buzz word these days.

I keep meaning to try it, because of his successes.

Cristo Balete wrote:A friend of mine makes EM, and he's gotten amazing results.  He uses it in spray form, has increased tree crop production, started new plants that shot out ahead of others.  

What he makes doesn't have anything to with "technology."  It's as organic as it gets.  But maybe that's just a buzz word these days.

I keep meaning to try it, because of his successes.

Can you share exactly how your friend makes the EM, and his dilutions, etc. for use?

Making EM is like this article below.  It's fermented, so there needs to be a way to let the gases out of the container or it will explode.  "burp" it daily.

EM mother culture, (there's info in the article below),  blackstrap molasses (without sulfur, important), nonchlorinated water (leave sitting out in an open bucket for a couple days)....

https://www.smilinggardener.com/soil-food-web/how-to-make-effective-microorganisms/

I used EM last year but it wasn't impressive. Definitely don't spray house plants with it. The sweet molasses attracts fruit flies. And their usual mess gets worse.
Use it outdoors if you want, but it won't be much different than compost tea or these kind of things. Of course the sweet smell will attract fruit loving insects too, but predators will come after them outdoors.

Flora Eerschay wrote:I used EM last year but it wasn't impressive. Definitely don't spray house plants with it. The sweet molasses attracts fruit flies. And their usual mess gets worse.
Use it outdoors if you want, but it won't be much different than compost tea or these kind of things. Of course the sweet smell will attract fruit loving insects too, but predators will come after them outdoors.

My article refers to Baikal EM1 concentrate. And if you want to use it correctly, 40 ml of Baikal EM1 and 40 ml of molasses is deluted in 4 litres of water to prepare living substrutum which is still intermediate product. Then you put a tablespoon of substratum in a bucket (10 litres) of water - can you imagine how much molasses present in a readymade solution? Just traces, negligible quantities.  But EM still work really well, especially if you use it outdoors

Cristo Balete wrote:Making EM is like this article below.  It's fermented, so there needs to be a way to let the gases out of the container or it will explode.  "burp" it daily.

EM mother culture, (there's info in the article below),  blackstrap molasses (without sulfur, important), nonchlorinated water (leave sitting out in an open bucket for a couple days)....

https://www.smilinggardener.com/soil-food-web/how-to-make-effective-microorganisms/

Thank you for that link, Cristo!

There is a whole forum on Permies with a lot of threads about this type of farming.  Here's the forum Asian Natural Farming

I've been wondering, at what temperature does the EM go dormant in the winter? We've had a very mild winter, even for here. Only one truly hard freeze, lasting a whole 2 days. A number of frosts though.

Also, at what temperature is it okay to start applying it in the, um, not exactly spring? I'm thinking my kale and turnips could use some help.

Our last average frost is usually around April 15. If that helps someone find an answer.

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:I've been wondering, at what temperature does the EM go dormant in the winter? We've had a very mild winter, even for here. Only one truly hard freeze, lasting a whole 2 days. A number of frosts though.

Also, at what temperature is it okay to start applying it in the, um, not exactly spring? I'm thinking my kale and turnips could use some help.

Our last average frost is usually around April 15. If that helps someone find an answer.

The manual for Baikal EM1 says that the ready made preparation can be used at minimal soil temperature of about 10 degrees Celcium. At lower temperatures the bacteria stop growing but they stay alive (even below zero). When the temperature is up again, the bacteria start growing again.

Thanks Yuri!

Wow I’m so glad Yuri has brought this subject back. I heard about EM years ago from an old biodynamic Austrian farmer.  He was brewing his EM in an old freezer in the barn.  I was dying to have some to try in on my farm. I saw how everything flourished in the garden and the orchard. Unfortunately my friend has since died. I have been looking for how to get ahold of EM since.
Does yours also have to be ‘brewed’?  Anything that helps our garden and us in the long run is appreciated. I just remembered that when I watched my old friend spray his trees he also sprayed in his mouth to show how good this stuff was!  He was the picture of health till 2 days before he died, years later. No link of course. I was involved in their home care.

Mary-Ellen Zands wrote:Wow I’m so glad Yuri has brought this subject back. I heard about EM years ago from an old biodynamic Austrian farmer.  He was brewing his EM in an old freezer in the barn.  I was dying to have some to try in on my farm. I saw how everything flourished in the garden and the orchard. Unfortunately my friend has since died. I have been looking for how to get ahold of EM since.
Does yours also have to be ‘brewed’?  Anything that helps our garden and us in the long run is appreciated. I just remembered that when I watched my old friend spray his trees he also sprayed in his mouth to show how good this stuff was!  He was the picture of health till 2 days before he died, years later. No link of course. I was involved in their home care.

Hello Mary-Ellen,
In this article: https://ecominded.net/effective-microorganisms-em-technology-in-plants you can find detailed instructions on how to make it work for your garden.
Please let me know if you have any more questions.

I brewed mine in a gallon jug. It makes a lot of EM1 solution, especially since you only use 1 tbsp for a bucket or watering can.

I accidentally didn't account for the amount of honey I'd need to put in my jug, and so split some off into a smaller jar when I added honey the second time!

Just a tablespoon for the watering can means it goes a long way!

It made enough that I was able to divide some off to give to my sister-in-law for her garden!

Thank you Yury for getting back to me. How long is EM good for in the bottle?  I will be buying your product but my friend’s daughter found a bottle of EM that is several years old. Do you think there would still be any life left in the product for her to use on her fields?  

Mary-Ellen Zands wrote:Thank you Yury for getting back to me. How long is EM good for in the bottle?  I will be buying your product but my friend’s daughter found a bottle of EM that is several years old. Do you think there would still be any life left in the product for her to use on her fields?  

The 40 milliliters bottle of Baikal EM is a concentrate where bacteria are not active yet, they are "sleeping". It is good for 18 months.
When you make 4 litres of Baikal-EM1 substratum, which is intermediate product (you wake up the bacteria), it is good for 6-12 months, only if you keep it in a dark, cool place.
And the final product: Baikal-EM1 solution (active bacteria deluted in enough amount of water ready to spray the plants) - is only good for 2-3 days