[compost_tea] Re: EM additions

From: Steve Diver <steved_at_ncat.org>
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:16:16 -0000

Mike, you are looking for two things:

1. EM source in Australia or New Zealand; there
are several

2. Alternative source for Lactobacillus.


You suggest yogurt, but I think that is a poor
substitute to get Lactobacillus growing.

Here are the two powerful Lactobacillus foliar practices
being employed:


1.  Spraying milk.  A growing number of reports
are surfacing on various milk-based foliar applications
ranging from raw milk to milk powder. 

This one article below -- "Effectiveness of cow's milk
against zucchini squash powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca
fuliginea) in greenhouse conditions" -- is enough to
get your thinking and connected to further ideas and
sources.

It appears that a culture of milk before it is
sprayed increases the Lactobacilli.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Effectiveness of cow's milk against zucchini squash powdery
mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) in greenhouse conditions
http://www.agrar.de/agenda/bettiol.htm

Abstract

Efficacy of fresh cow milk was tested in five greenhouse
experiments against powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea)
on zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo). Plants were sprayed
with milk at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%, either once or
twice a week. Additional treatments were fungicides
(fenarimol 0.1 ml/l or benomyl 0.1 g/l) applied once a
week and water as a control treatment. Severity of powdery
mildew was visually evaluated on individual leaves at weekly
intervals and scored as percentage of leaf area infected
for infected leaves. A negative correlation was found
between infected leaf area per infected leaf and milk
concentration sprayed on plants for the five experiments.
High concentrations of milk were more effective than the
conventional fungicides tested. This study demonstrated
that milk is an effective alternative for the control of
powdery mildew in organic agriculture.

Excerpts:

Cucurbit powdery mildew, caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea
(Schlecht.) Pollacci, is a serious disease on cucurbits
grown worldwide.

Several alternatives to conventional fungicides have been
evaluated for cucurbit powdery mildew.

We have demonstrated that the residue of glutamic fermentation
of molasses and a product of milk fermentation released by
Lactobacillus were effective for the control of powdery mildew
on zucchini squash (Bettiol, 1996; Astiarraga and Bettiol,
1997; Bettiol and Astiarraga, 1998).

This paper reports on the control of powdery mildew on
zucchini squash with milk under greenhouse conditions.
This study was conducted to obtain an alternative for
controlling powdery mildew in organic agriculture.

Cow milk may have more than one mode of action in controlling
zucchini squash powdery mildew. Fresh milk may have a direct
effect against S. fuliginea due to its germicidal properties
(Salle, 1954). Milk contains several salts and amino-acids
(Martins Filho, 1987). These substances have been shown to
be effective in controlling powdery mildew and other diseases
(Reuveni et al, 1993/1995; Mucharromah and Kuc, 1991; Titone
et al, 1997; Pasini et al, 1997). Several authors have shown
that sodium bicarbonate, oxalate, dibasic or tribasic potassium
phosphate, and other salts and amino-acids have been efficient
in the induction of systemic resistance (Reuveni et al,
1993/1995; Mucharromah and Kuc, 1991; Titone et al, 1997;
Pasini et al, 1997; van Andel, 1966). Therefore milk may
also indirectly affect S. fuliginea by inducing systemic
resistance.

Milk is not a potential environmental or food contaminant,
consequently it can be used in organic agriculture. Several
organic growers have been spraying 5% cow milk once a week
to control powdery mildew on zucchini squash and cucumber.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


2.  Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum, and IMO recipe from
Korean Natural Farming Association.

Culture your own Lactobacilli with local microflora,
rice rinse water, milk, and sugar.

The primary source for IMO recipes is Han Kyu Cho with
KNFA.  This book is rare, so don't ask me where you can
buy it. You might be able to borrow it from a library.

Korean Natural Farming: Indigenous Microorganisms and
Vital Power of Crop/Livestock
Han Kyu Cho and Atushi Koyama
Korean Natural Farming Association, 1997
172 pages


Here is an edited excerpt from Gil Carandang's
IMO workshop notes that we co-taught at EcoFarm
in Asilomar, January 2003.


"Lactic acid bacteria can be collected from the air.  Pour
rice wash (rinse water) into a container (i.e.,g plastic
pot with lid).  Allow for an air gap, at least 50-75% the
volume of the container.  Cover the pot with a loose lid
to allow local microflora access to the rice wash microbial
substrate.  Put the container in a quiet area with no direct
sunlight.  Allow the rice was to ferment for at least 5-7
days.  Lactic acid bacteria will gather in 5-7 days when
temperature is 20-25 degrees C.  Rice bran will be separated
and float in the liquid, like a thin film, smelling sour. 
Strain and get the liquid.  Put this liquid in a bigger
container and pour ten parts milk.  The original liquid has
been infected with different type of microbes including
lacto bacilli.  In order to get the pure lacto bacilli,
saturation of milk will eliminate the other microorganisms
and the pure lacto bacilli will be left.  You may use
skim or powdered milk, although fresh milk is best. 
In 5-7 days, carbohydrate, protein and fat will float
leaving yellow liquid (serum), which contain the
lactic acid bacteria.  You can dispose the coagulated
carbohydrate, protein and fat, add them to your compost
pile or feed them to your animals.  The pure lactic acid
bacteria serum can be stored in the refrigerator or simply
add equal amount (1 part to 1 part) crude sugar (dilute
with 1/3 water) or molasses.  The sugar or molasses will
keep the lactic acid bacteria alive at room temperature. 
Now, these lactic acid bacteria serum with sugar or
molasses will be your pure culture.  To use, you can dilute
this pure culture with 20 parts water.  This diluted form
1:20 ratio will be your basic lactic acid bacteria
concoction.  Two to four tablespoons added to water of
one gallon can be used as your basic spray and can be added
to water and feeds of animals.  For bigger animals,
the 2-4 tablespoons of this diluted lactic acid bacteria
serum should be used without diluting it further with water. 
Lactic acid bacteria serum can be applied to plant leaves
to fortify phyllosphere microbes, to soil and compost. 
Of course, it will help improve digestion and nutrient
assimilation for animals and other applications mentioned
before." 

To contact Gil, see his farm web page, and order
his booklet -- "Indigenous Microorganisms: Grow Your
Own Beneficial Indigenous Microorganisms and Bionutrients
in Natural Farming," go to:

Herbana Farms Philippines
http://www.herbanafarmsphilippines.com/


Best regards,

Steve Diver
http://www.attra.ncat.org


--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Mike Harvey" <mharvey@w...>
wrote:
> Titel,
> Thanks for that, however I am looking for a source in Australia I
will do a
> search.
> Looks like yoghurt would not do any harm then? and would be
beneficial.
> regards Mike H




Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
click here


Yahoo! Groups Links

Received on Thu Oct 21 2004 - 12:54:37 EDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:32 EST