Effective microorganism
Encyclopedia
An effective microorganism refers to any of the predominantly anaerobic
organisms blended in commercial agricultural amendments, medicines, and nutritional supplements based on the trademarked product originally marketed as EM-1 Microbial Inoculant, aka Effective Microorganisms and EM Technology. These blends are reported to include:
EM Technology is purported to support sustainable practices in farming and to improve and support human health and hygiene, compost and waste management, disaster clean-up (the Bangkok floods of 2011, the Southeast Asia tsunami of 2004, the Kobe earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina
remediation projects).
EM has been employed in many agricultural applications, but is also used in the production of several health products in South Africa and the USA.
, from the University of the Ryukyus
in Okinawa
, Japan. He reported in the 1980s that a combination of approximately 80 different microorganisms is capable of positively influencing decomposing organic matter such that it reverts into a "life promoting" process. Higa invokes a "dominance principle" to explain the effects of his "Effective Microorganisms". He claims that three groups of microorganisms exist: "positive microorganisms" (regeneration), "negative microorganisms" (decomposition, degeneration), "opportunist microorganisms". In every medium (soil, water, air, the human intestine), the ratio of "positive" and "negative" microorganisms is critical, since the opportunist microorganisms follow the trend to regeneration or degeneration. Therefore, Higa believes that it is possible to positively influence the given media by supplementing with "positive" microorganisms.
Research, they conclude in that, "the main limitation...is the problem of reproducibility and lack of consistent results.".
Parr and Higa mention soil pH, shading, soil temperature and flooding as factors affecting the interaction of EM with local microbiological organisms, and with each other. The philosophical approach that Higa and Parr invoke is the maintaining of pH and soil temperature within conditions known to be detrimental to negative microorganisms as well as the addition of EM to favorably tip the balance of positive and negative microorganisms in favor of the positive microorganisms.
For these reasons the two proponents of the technology (Higa and Parr) dismiss "silver bullet" beneficial microorganism inoculants that are only a single microorganism (single strain/single genus) as generally ineffective due to the host of uncertainty about the conditions a single microorganism would be effective in. They cite the scientific acknowledgment of the scientific community that multiple microorganisms (as in the case of Bokashi, invented and marketed by Higa) in coordination with good soil management
practices positively influence soil microorganisms and plant growth and yield. They call for additional research to develop more information on soil microorganisms and their interactions.
Recently, peer reviewed research is coming out on the technology. Many of the claims are being put to the test. An example is a paper written by Myint Lwini and S. L. Ranamukhaarachchi. The paper discusses biological controls of bacterial wilt disease and showed that application of EM and EM Bokashi were most-effective as bio-control agents. Other articles, such as those by Yamada and Xu examine the use of EM in making organic fertilizers. Hui-Lian Xu has been researching Effective Microorgnisms™ for several years. Some of his research has been on photosynthesis and yield of sweet corn, Physiological characteristics in peanuts, and fruit yield and quality of tomato plants. Others are also looking at pre-harvest and post-harvest applications of EM-1.
Many of the earlier peer reviewed papers were on EM-X Rice Bran Supplement, a product sold for human consumption. These papers include papers written by Chui, CH, Datla, KP, and Ke B. Most of this research was on the antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory effects, and effects on various forms of cancers.
The use of EM in the bokashi intensive composting process for home kitchen waste has been in use in Christchurch
, New Zealand for several years, backed by the local city council, and its use as a plant fertilizer is beginning to be researched locally.
Anaerobic organism
An anaerobic organism or anaerobe is any organism that does not require oxygen for growth. It could possibly react negatively and may even die if oxygen is present...
organisms blended in commercial agricultural amendments, medicines, and nutritional supplements based on the trademarked product originally marketed as EM-1 Microbial Inoculant, aka Effective Microorganisms and EM Technology. These blends are reported to include:
- Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus caseiLactobacillus caseiLactobacillus casei is a species of genus Lactobacillus found in the human intestine and mouth. As a lactic acid producer, it has been found to assist in the propagation of desirable bacteria. This particular species of Lactobacillus is documented to have a wide pH and temperature range, and...
- Photosynthetic bacteria: Rhodopseudomonas palustrisRhodopseudomonas palustrisRhodopseudomonas palustris is a gram-negative purple non-sulfur bacteria, notable for its ability to switch between four different modes of metabolism....
- Yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiaeSaccharomyces cerevisiaeSaccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of yeast. It is perhaps the most useful yeast, having been instrumental to baking and brewing since ancient times. It is believed that it was originally isolated from the skin of grapes...
- Others: beneficial microorganisms that exist naturally in the environment may thrive in the mixture.
EM Technology is purported to support sustainable practices in farming and to improve and support human health and hygiene, compost and waste management, disaster clean-up (the Bangkok floods of 2011, the Southeast Asia tsunami of 2004, the Kobe earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
remediation projects).
EM has been employed in many agricultural applications, but is also used in the production of several health products in South Africa and the USA.
Origins
The concept of "friendly microorganisms" was developed by Professor Teruo HigaTeruo Higa
is a professor at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, located to the south of the main Japanese archipelago, and grew up there. Following his graduation from the Department of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, he took his doctorate from the Agricultural Research Department of Kyushu...
, from the University of the Ryukyus
University of the Ryukyus
The , abbreviated to Ryūdai , is a national university of Japan. It is located in the town of Nishihara on Okinawa Honto in Okinawa Prefecture. There are also campuses in Nakagusuku and Ginowan. It is the westernmost national university of Japan and the largest public university in Okinawa Prefecture...
in Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan. He reported in the 1980s that a combination of approximately 80 different microorganisms is capable of positively influencing decomposing organic matter such that it reverts into a "life promoting" process. Higa invokes a "dominance principle" to explain the effects of his "Effective Microorganisms". He claims that three groups of microorganisms exist: "positive microorganisms" (regeneration), "negative microorganisms" (decomposition, degeneration), "opportunist microorganisms". In every medium (soil, water, air, the human intestine), the ratio of "positive" and "negative" microorganisms is critical, since the opportunist microorganisms follow the trend to regeneration or degeneration. Therefore, Higa believes that it is possible to positively influence the given media by supplementing with "positive" microorganisms.
Validation
The Effective Microorganisms (EM) concept may be considered controversial in some quarters and there may not be scientific evidence to support all of its proponents' claims. This is acknowledged by Higa in a 1994 paper co-authored by Higa and soil microbiologist James F Parr, a USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
Research, they conclude in that, "the main limitation...is the problem of reproducibility and lack of consistent results.".
Parr and Higa mention soil pH, shading, soil temperature and flooding as factors affecting the interaction of EM with local microbiological organisms, and with each other. The philosophical approach that Higa and Parr invoke is the maintaining of pH and soil temperature within conditions known to be detrimental to negative microorganisms as well as the addition of EM to favorably tip the balance of positive and negative microorganisms in favor of the positive microorganisms.
For these reasons the two proponents of the technology (Higa and Parr) dismiss "silver bullet" beneficial microorganism inoculants that are only a single microorganism (single strain/single genus) as generally ineffective due to the host of uncertainty about the conditions a single microorganism would be effective in. They cite the scientific acknowledgment of the scientific community that multiple microorganisms (as in the case of Bokashi, invented and marketed by Higa) in coordination with good soil management
Soil management
Soil management concerns all operations, practices and treatments used to protect soil and enhance its performance.-Practices:Soil management practices that affect soil quality:...
practices positively influence soil microorganisms and plant growth and yield. They call for additional research to develop more information on soil microorganisms and their interactions.
Recently, peer reviewed research is coming out on the technology. Many of the claims are being put to the test. An example is a paper written by Myint Lwini and S. L. Ranamukhaarachchi. The paper discusses biological controls of bacterial wilt disease and showed that application of EM and EM Bokashi were most-effective as bio-control agents. Other articles, such as those by Yamada and Xu examine the use of EM in making organic fertilizers. Hui-Lian Xu has been researching Effective Microorgnisms™ for several years. Some of his research has been on photosynthesis and yield of sweet corn, Physiological characteristics in peanuts, and fruit yield and quality of tomato plants. Others are also looking at pre-harvest and post-harvest applications of EM-1.
Many of the earlier peer reviewed papers were on EM-X Rice Bran Supplement, a product sold for human consumption. These papers include papers written by Chui, CH, Datla, KP, and Ke B. Most of this research was on the antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory effects, and effects on various forms of cancers.
The use of EM in the bokashi intensive composting process for home kitchen waste has been in use in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand for several years, backed by the local city council, and its use as a plant fertilizer is beginning to be researched locally.
Further reading
- Amon B, Kryvoruchko V, et al.: Einfluss von "Effektiven Mikroorganismen" auf Ammoniak-, Lachgas- und Methanemissionen und auf das Geruchsemissionspotential während der Lagerung von Schweineflüssigmist und -festmist. Bericht der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien im Auftrag der Multikraft GmbH, 2004 PDF
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
- Teruo Higa (1991)"Microorganisms for Agriculture and Environmental Preservation" Publishers site