Compost Teas: 24 hour, EM, IM, BD & fermented plant extracts

["D" <madhava AT fidalgo.net>]

Jeff,

Just to clarify, when you make your loose tea, do add extra food for the
microbe (kelp, molasses etc.) or is it just compost.  If it is just compost
has that tea been tested.  Also what do you use to strain your tea before
spraying?

On another note, is anyone on this list familar with EM (efftective
micro-orgranisms).  It is:


"Since the 1980's Kyusei Nature Farming has gained wider recognition for its
innovative use of microbial preparations known as Effective MicroorganismsT,
or EM.  EM was developed by Dr. Teruo Higa, a research horticulturist at the
University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.

EM consists of mixed cultures of beneficial and naturally-occurring
microorganisms that co-exist in a liquid medium.  When the microbial
inoculant is applied to organic wastes or introduced into the environment,
their individual beneficial effect is multiplied in a synergistic fashion.
The culture consists primarily of lactic bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria,
and yeasts, and contains over 80 different microorganisms altogether.

The main species of microorganisms in EM include:  [1] Lactic acid bacteria:
Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus lactis; [2]
Photosynthetic bacteria:  Rhodopseudomonas palustrus, Rhodobacter
spaeroides; [3] Yeasts:  Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis;
[4] Actinomycetes:  Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces griseus; and [5]
Fermenting Fungi:  Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor hiemalis.

EM inoculation has been shown to improve soil quality, soil health, and the
growth, yield, and quality of crops.  However, EM is not a substitute for
other management practices.  Rather, it should be combined with best
management practices such as crop rotations, use of organic amendments,
conservation tillage, crop residue recycling, and biocontrol of pests.

In the United States, EM technology is being used by organic farmers, by
confinement livestock operators, by home gardeners, and by food processing
waste handlers.  EM can be used as microbial inoculant for green manure
residues prior to plough down, as a compost inoculant, as an irrigation
water inoculant, to transform kitchen food scraps into a fermented
biofertilizer, as an odor abatement with animal manures, as a probiotic
addition to livestock water, as a foliar spray to compete with plant
pathogens, and as a direct soil treatment, among others.  It is applied in
both dried (bokashi, wheat bran pre-inoculated with EM) and liquid forms
(EM).

The beneficial microorganisms in EM help create optimum soil microfloral
populations which decompose organic amendments (e.g., crop residues, animal
manures, mulches, food wastes) and create soils that are disease
suppressive, fix nitrogen, and enhance soil quality.  Under poor
environmental conditions these same organic amendments can lead to anerobic
conditions leading to putrefaction and disease inducing soils."

EM comes as a concentrate.   Small amounts can be mixed with molases and
expanded.  One gallon can make 22 gallons.  A gallon costs around $50.

I've thought about using EM instead of compost tea mainly because it doesn't
require any special equipment, there isn't the uncertainty of the final
product and no pathegeon problem to worry about.  The only downside to EM as
compared to compost tea would be the lack of relative diversity.

I'm interested in what others think about a product like that.  Does anyone
see a downside to using a product like that instead of CT.

For more EM info check out
http://ncatark.uark.edu/~steved/Nature-Farm-EM.html

Thanks,
Daniel

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Lowenfels" <jeff AT gardener.com>
To: "D" <madhava AT fidalgo.net>; <eddington AT lvcm.com>;
<Compostteas AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2002 3:27 PM
Subject: RE: [Compostteas] D.O. levels - Testing Meters


> <What is the foam that forms on the tea.  Someone told me you know when
the
> tea is finished by a head of foam.  Is this true?>
>
> imho IT IS NOT True. SOmetimes you can even have a good tea with out any
> foam at all. THe foam is usually proteins from things in the compost like
> worms.
>
>
> <Has anyone tried making tea with the compost loose in the brewer and not
> adding any extra food source.  It seems like there would be plenty of
water
> soluble food and appropriate chunks for the continued growth of bacteria
and
> fungi.  Is this faulty logic?>
>
> No, it is not faulty and there are lots of people, myself included, who do
> just that...make loose tea.
>
>
>
> Can there be too much air in the brewer in terms of damaging organisms due
> to turbulence?
>
> <Yes. Too much turbulence can splatt organisms......if you wouldn't want
to
> be there, they wouldn't....Nice and gentle with lots of air. Otherwise,
why
> not use ultra-sonic systems?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
> ______________________________________________
> PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY: Through PAR, over 3 million pounds of food
have
> been donated by home gardeners like you to feed the hungry. Ask me how you
> can join the effort.
>
>
>