| Author | Content |
dparsons01
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7b)
October 12, 2008
02:26 AM Post #5660578
| I'm wondering if the various biological soil innoculants on the market give any advantage over just adding compost. The compost has been broken down and has organisms in it already. Is it a matter of getting better organisms? More organisms so that the organic matter in the soil is processed faster? If you have some knowledge or thoughts on the matter please post. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 12, 2008
10:54 PM Post #5663406
| I think this really depends on where you live, and the history of your soil.
Many areas no longer have as strong a population of beneficial microbes in their soil, as compared to areas that have not been disturbed by modern man.
I find a huge difference in how my garden has grown once I started using the EM cultures (marketed as Efficient Microbes ro Effective Microbes, depending on the manufacturer). I also notice a difference in how the garden compost looks and smells when I started adding some Bokashi fermented food wastes to the pile.
A rep from EM America had indicated that if EM were used regularly, after a few years, the population of beneficial microbes would be sufficiently established that one wouldn't need to apply.
If you are starting a new composting system in an urban/suburban area, or other area that does not have soil already rich in organic matter, I would use an innoculant in the compost for the first few compost cycles. After that, you would hopefully have some microbial "seed stock" in your compost area and soil to keep things going.
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dparsons01
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7b)
October 13, 2008
04:58 AM Post #5664841
| Thank you. That makes sense. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
October 13, 2008
06:09 PM Post #5666622
| I totally agree with G-M. While I cannot see any difference in my garden...I have only been using the innoculant for about 2 months...pouring the residual 'tea' on some trees. Will let you know next year.
What I like about processing the compost with EM is no smell...or not a bad one, anyway!!!
Carol |
EMEric
Tucson, AZ
October 13, 2008
11:00 PM Post #5667791
| The biological products on the market vary greatly. You should look for a variety of species. No inoculant will have ALL the microbes you want in your soil...not even compost. Compost also does not have as much beneficial microbes are one would think. Once it has cured, it will have many beneficial fungi, as long as the compost was made well.
You really notice the difference in two areas: disease control and flavor in fruits and vegetables. Diseases are suppressed by various beneficial microbes and proper gardening techniques (such not watering too much or too little and not planting plants too close).
Improved flavor comes from increased bio-availability of nutrients when many beneficial microbes are present. This can be measured in actual vitamin content in fruits and increased BRIX%. Increased brix is a measurement of sugar (a simple definition). This means fruits and vegetables are not only sweeter, but also have a longer shelf life. |
dparsons01
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7b)
October 14, 2008
01:53 AM Post #5668635
| Thanks again. That is basically where I'm headed Eric. I just don't like throwing $money after something that doesn't add any benefit. One question on the EM-1 product, is there a listing of what beneficial organisms are in it? Even classes of organism?
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AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
October 14, 2008
05:18 PM Post #5670486
| Yes...I found a list on the EMamerica website... |
EMEric
Tucson, AZ
October 14, 2008
07:57 PM Post #5671075
| Yes, on the products tab. Only the microbes that are guaranteed are listed. There are more, but in smaller quantities in the EM1 Microbial Inoculant. |
Molamola
Christiansted, VI
(Zone 11)
October 15, 2008
12:12 AM Post #5672105
| I wish you could ship to the VI, Eric! |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 15, 2008
12:14 AM Post #5672110
| Why can't EM be shipped to the VI's? |
EMEric
Tucson, AZ
October 15, 2008
01:27 AM Post #5672444
| The Virgin Islands is likely covered through EMRO Costa Rica. You should be able to get it. I will check.
EM America can't ship there since it is out of territory.
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Molamola
Christiansted, VI
(Zone 11)
October 15, 2008
01:43 AM Post #5672523
| Thanks, I'll check that. No rush, I'm getting a hurricane tomorrow. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 15, 2008
04:01 AM Post #5673043
| Batten down the hatches! I hope Omar behaves himself. |
EMEric
Tucson, AZ
November 12, 2008
04:59 AM Post #5781149
| Has anyone composted with the EM1? I know you have GM.
Molamola, have you checked in with EMRO Costa Rica about getting EM1 in the VI? You could also contact Earth University about it. They use EM1 in their sustainable Ag programs. They even grow 300+ hectares of bananas that are sold exclusively through Whole Foods Market with EM1 and EM1 bokashi. Whole Foods even carries banana waste paper products that come through the EARTH farm. These too are treated with EM1. Pretty wild! |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
November 12, 2008
05:01 AM Post #5781154
| I think CapeCodGardener has composted with it. Haven't seen him on this thread though. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
November 12, 2008
07:46 PM Post #5783219
| Eric...how interesting!!! I will start spraying the banana patches with EM1...we leave the spent stalks and leaves there...and thro the Bokashi juice on them. What a super idea!!! |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
November 29, 2008
05:07 AM Post #5839821
| When I was in New Zealand my hostess had a little garden started...and I watered her little starts with Molassas and Fish Fertilizer. I swear they looked HUGE a week later and her Passion Fruit vine started flowering like mad!!! I think it was on the CSI site where I read it was a good way to start the beneficial microrganisms in the soil. |
twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
November 29, 2008
04:06 PM Post #5840631
| My son makes homemade fish juice that works well. I can't bear to mess with it on account of the smell. I wonder if that Bokashi would eliminate the odor. The fish juice smell disappears as soon as it is watered in well. I've seen several recipes for alfalfa tea and other homemade concoctions calling for molasses so I might better look into it. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
November 29, 2008
05:51 PM Post #5840896
| Twiggybuds...I think that if you got some EM and mixed it in, it would eliminate the odor...don't know. I do know that adding the molassas (or any sugars except honey) give the natural good bacteria something to stimulate growth...they eat it and multiply, great for the plants... When you make Bokashi it produces a by product in a liquid that leaks out and that is really great on plants too. |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
November 29, 2008
05:54 PM Post #5840902
| Why is honey a no-no? Because it's antibacterial? |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
November 29, 2008
08:48 PM Post #5841655
| Yes, Darius...that's what i am told, altho DH (a chemical engineer), says that is not true... I play it safe!
Edited to finish the sentance.
This message was edited Nov 29, 2008 10:49 AM |
gone2seed
Milton, FL
(Zone 8a)
November 29, 2008
09:22 PM Post #5841752
| honey is anti-bacterial on two fronts.Properly cured honey is hygroscopic and draws water from the bacteria,thereby killing it.It also contains small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
November 29, 2008
11:54 PM Post #5842415
| Interesting... Didn't know that. Thanks! |
dparsons01
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7b)
November 30, 2008
05:22 AM Post #5843246
| I would expect the molasses to have a good nutrient mix. Perhaps it complements the fish. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
December 1, 2008
01:45 AM Post #5845829
| katiebear uses EM on fish entrails in her Bokashi bucket and does not have an odour problem with it. She has several posts on the Bokashi threads about that. |
twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
December 1, 2008
04:53 AM Post #5846415
| Thanks GM. That's reason enough for me to get some. I have access to plenty of fish and it's a real problem to deal with since animals want to exhume it and you surely can't just leave it lying around.
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