EM-1 | GREEN EARTH

DOT Applications

Municipal and State Applications

What is EM•1® Microbial Inoculant?

EM•1® Microbial Inoculant is an OMRI Listed microbial inoculant that can be used in a variety of agricultural and environmental applications. “EM™” refers to “Effective Microorganisms™” and was developed by Dr.Teruo Higa, Professor of Horticulture in Okinawa,Japan.

EM•1® Microbial Inoculant was designed to produce healthy, abundant crops and to also reduce the dependency on harmful pesticides and other chemicals.

EM•1® provides us with many advantages to agricultural systems.

EM•1® Microbial Inoculant does its best work when applied as part of an organic fertility program, in applications including, compost, green manures, and organic fertilizers (of plant and animal origin), along with other sources of carbon and nutrients. When used in conventional agriculture, EM•1® Microbial Inoculant can increase the efficiency of applied fertilizer while promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Multiple inoculations over an extended period are recommended for achieving optimum results. However, good results also may be seen with the very first treatment.

EM•1® Microbial Inoculant can be used in many different ways. You can treat plants, water and soil. It can be sprayed on soil as pretreatment for planting, used to treat seeds or transplants, and applied to growing crops as a foliar spray or through irrigation water.

EM•1® Microbial Inoculant is useful in growing nursery crops, container-grown plants, and even in hydroponics. It is used on a variety of horticultural applications including crops, ornamentals, vegetables, trees, shrubs, flowers (especially orchids) and herbs.

Sprouts are one of nature’s most nutritious foods, full of energy and nutrition. All of the energy and the blueprint of a mature plant are contained in its seed, along with all the potential of its future being as well as the ancestry of its lineage. Sprouting seeds is one of the easiest and quickest ways to create live foods for use in a raw food, vegan diet.

Better Sprouting with Effective Microorganisms

While sprouts are not very difficult to grow, there are certain issues to be dealt with to insure that they are produced successfully, with due consideration for safety and optimum quality. The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Arizona is producing sprouts using Effective Microorganisms.

They use the following methods for producing wheat grass, buckwheat lettuce and sunflower sprouts:

Methods:

1st soak: 20 minutes in a weak hydrogen peroxide solution (1-2 tbsp. 2% hydrogen peroxide per 2 quarts of water and seeds. This is to clean the seeds thoroughly of any surface dirt, dust and spores that might contaminate the sprouting seeds.

2nd soak: 20 minutes in a 1:100 dilution of EM-1® in water. This helps provide a probiotic environment for the sprouting seeds to ward off re-contamination by spores.

3rd soak: 8-10 hrs., or overnight in pure, clean water. We recommend using EM-X® Ceramics to help structure the soaking water for optimum results.

After soaking, trays are prepared by punching holes for good drainage (if necessary), and lining the tray with a suitable screen material, such as cheesecloth. A very thin layer of peat moss (1/2 inch or less) is placed in the bottom of the tray, and the soaked seeds are layered on top of the peat moss to the depth of one seed spread evenly over the surface of the tray. A standard 10 by 20 inch tray will hold 1.5 to 2 cups of seeds. The filled trays are given a gentle spray of water to help settle the seeds before being placed in the rack to start the germination process. A dark cover is placed over the sprouts, which is typically just another empty tray. Once the sprouts reach the top of the covering tray, it is removed and the sprouts are exposed to sunlight to green up.

Harvesting:

Buckwheat and sunflower sprouts will benefit from a rinse with a strong spray of water to knock off the hulls (seed coats) that still cling to some of the sprouts. Then, the sprouts can be harvested using a scissors or sharp knife. A final rinse in cold water will help make them nice and crisp for eating. To enhance flavor and quality and reduce spoilage, a few drops of EM-X® can be added to the final rinse/soak water, and/or EM-X® Ceramics can be used to structure the water. For wheat sprouts, a light spray with EM-X® water or EM-X® Ceramics structured water before harvesting will enhance the anti-oxidants in the wheat grass juice.

Courtesy: Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center – Patagonia, Arizona

EM America provides clients with specifically targeted applications of EM Technology® that are able to dramatically reduce odors caused by putrefied wastes. The picture on the right shows the walls of a lift station that once were black and now look like new cement. This dramatic change was achieved simply through the application of EM-1® Waste Treatment. This effect happens throughout the entire collection system when EM Technology® is properly applied in the collection system. Timing, flow rates, system design, and management are all considered in developing an application program for a waste water treatment plant and collection system (sewer).

EM-1® Waste Treatment has a unique ability to stabilize complex proteins through a shift from anaerobic putrefaction cycles to a fermentative cycle. Hair and plastics can play havoc with the balancing of an anaerobic digester by creating over-thickening of the scum layer. Hair is primarily composed of complex proteins, which have been historically difficult to stabilize to a point at which the biological breakdown will occur in a timely manner. EM-1® Waste Treatment will assist by accelerating protein stabilization.

EM-1® Waste Treatment is applied at various stages in the treatment process for optimum results. The application site and dosage amounts are dependent on the type of treatment system, the age of the system, and the goals of the parties involved. Application rates can vary from 1: 1000 to 1: 40,000. The average rate into a treatment system is around 1: 10,000 (based on daily flow). The EM-1® is activated and injected at various points throughout the collection system on a steady flow.

The microbes in EM-1® Waste Treatment secrete beneficial substances such as organic acids, enzymes and antioxidants (chelated minerals and vitamins) when in contact with organic matter. In wastewater applications, EM-1® assists in shifting conditions from putrefactive to non-putrefactive. This unique ability enables EM-1® to transition the wastewater collection system into a pretreatment system, thereby lowering the loading demand on wastewater treatment plants. Essentially, consistent applications of EM Technology® into the collection system will increase the capacity of the treatment plant, decrease the operation costs, and improve the efficiency of the entire system.

Since every treatment system is in itself a separate ecosystem, EM America will custom-design each application for a wastewater treatment system after an assessment of the entire system.

Bioremediation is the process of biologically breaking down some type of contaminant, usually with some type of synthetic chemical, through the use of beneficial microorganisms. Depending on what has actually contaminated the area, a specific formula will be designed and inoculations will begin. Some methods involve complete removal of contaminated soil and incinerating it at very high temperatures to cook off the contaminant(s). Another method of remediating soils is to use plants known to uptake specific nutrients or metals from soils.

This method is known as phyto-remediation. Once the plant has removed the contaminant from the soil it is then incinerated at very high temperatures to prevent release into the atmosphere. Depending on the results of the site assessment, sometimes it is best to let things take care of themselves naturally. This process is called natural attenuation. Enhanced bioremediation can involve injecting more microbes and/or a food source for the microbes already present in the area to be remediated. The thought process behind bioremediation is very simple and has been a quickly growing field since the late 1980’s. All synthetic chemicals are modeled off of some natural product in one form or another. Microorganisms are known to break down any natural substance. The thought is to introduce microbes of a certain genus that are known to break down the naturalsubstance and hope that it will break down the synthetic substance. Because the synthetic substances are usually toxic, a tremendous amount of the microorganisms are needed to surpass a threshold.

Once the microbes can establish large populations, they can work on breaking down the substance. Studies have been done using individual strains of microbes for bioremediation. Several of these studies have been done by the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy on the use of photosynthetic bacteria and their ability to break down substances such as benzene and perchlorates. Science likes to isolate events so it can understand how one substance works. However, by doing this they often miss the synergistic effects that could have taken place with complex cultures of microorganisms. Effective Microorganisms™ works as a complex network of beneficial microorganisms. More often than not, EM-1® becomes a food source for the group of microbes that do the actual job. Without the EM-1® present, the indigenous biologicals may not have been able to accomplish the task themselves. The fact that Effective Microorganisms™ co-exist with indigenous microbes is one reason why EM-1® has such vast uses.

Since each project is different in regards to chemical components and severity of problems, EM America develops a different program for each incidence. Items needed to complete this programs include a full onsite assessment, lists of all the materials that have contaminated the area, lists of all materials that since been used, any geological assessments of the area, maps, soil samples, water samples (if applicable), etc. These assessments are usually outsourced to an agency that specializes in these areas. EM America will meet with the consultants and develop a mode of treatment and monitor the project to assure the project goals are achieved.

Please contact EM America if you have a site that you wish to engage in as a remediation project for a customized program. EM America encourages engineering firms engaged in bioremediation or enhanced bioremediation to contact us and collaborate on projects they have in mind.

Using EM Technology® (EM-1® Waste Treatment) can help reduce composting turning costs by as much as 80% and prevent anaerobic, odor-causing decay. The key to efficient composting is to have healthy decomposition constantly occurring throughout the pile. In all conditions, including low oxygen and anaerobic environments, EM-1® Waste Treatment facilitates healthy decomposition and increased production of stable organic matter particles (humus). Feed stocks treated with EM-1® Waste Treatment quickly develop structure and a more fluffy texture allowing oxygen to penetrate into the pile. Anaerobic pockets become aerated and the overall quality of the product is improved while reducing management time and cost. Microbial density and diversity improvements and increased nitrogen availability in composts treated with EM-1® Waste Treatment is discussed below.

Effective Microorganisms Composting in Windrows, No Fly, Odor, or Leachate Problems.

Composting is an environmentally conscious method of creating a valuable product out of organic wastes. At present, the fundamental challenge composting facilities face is in properly aerating the piles. Oxygen starts to become limiting in compost piles within minutes of turning and the rising diesel and equipment costs makes turning compost the main management input. Frequent turning also exacerbates odor and dust issues, releasing ammonium and methane gases into the air and in the process losing valuable nutrients and organic mass. This makes for angry neighbors, numerous flies, and a potentially disease inducing finished product.

EM-1® Waste Treatment is compatible with numerous types of commercial composting systems (including in vessel systems), and can be used to effectively treat green waste, livestock waste, food waste, and most other agricultural-industrial wastes that will be composted. EM-1® Waste Treatment can also be used at transfer stations for safe and effective odor control.

A trial was set up to examine the benefits of EM-1® Waste Treatment for a commercial aerobic windrow green waste compost operation in Northern California that uses a method of composting that requires a tremendous amount of turning.

The Finished Compost is Consistent and High Quality

Lab analysis provided results that suggest the EM-1® Waste Treatment compost was significantly more mature and stable than the control. The EM-1® Waste Treatment compost had a C:N (Carbon to Nitrogen) ratio of 15:1 to a 18:1 C:N ratio for the untreated compost (control). Furthermore, the compost treated with EM-1® Waste Treatment contained 5 times more nitrate than the control. The NO2:NH3 ratio for the compost treated with EM-1® Waste Treatment was 16:1 compared to 3:1 for the control. The compost treated with EM-1® Waste Treatment more intensely cycled carbon to nitrogen and more efficiently converted organic nitrogen into nitrate. Microbial analysis confirmed and quantified the visible increase in microbial activity. The heterotrophic, actinomycetes, and pseudomonad groups had significantly greater populations in the compost treated with EM-1® Waste Treatment. The microbial diversity index for the EM-1® Waste Treatment compost was also greater than the control.

BBC Labs Microbial Analysis Report Summary:

Heterotrophic groupEM-1® Waste Treatment Control120 Million 36 Million

Actinomycetes groupEM-1® Waste Treatment Control16 Million2 Million

Pseudomonad groupEM-1® Waste Treatment Control6.5 Million0.45 Million

Anaerobic groupEM-1® Waste Treatment Control9.4 Million 13 Million

The following application recommendation are guidelines to producing high quality compost with less intensive management. Contact EM America for customer EM-1® Waste Treatment composting programs that will meet your goals.

Procedures:

Apply EM-1® Waste Treatment as soon as the material is consolidated (or windrowed) and preferably before the material has become thermophillic (temperatures above 120 degrees F).
These recommended rates of EM-1® Waste Treatment application are guidelines and may need to be adjusted for site-specific conditions and unique feedstocks. Activated EM-1® Waste Treatment should be used for all applications due to cost savings. Consult with EM America for specific commercial composting Activation instructions.

FeedstockEM-1® Waste Treatment Application Rate per tonApplication Timing

100% Green Waste1 gal. Activated EM-1® Waste TreatmentDay 1

50% Green Waste/50% Food waste or other agricultural waste (i.e. livestock waste)2 gal. Activated EM-1® Waste TreatmentDay 1 (1 gal.) and Day 14 (1 gal.)
Add EM-1® Waste Treatment to the water used to hydrate the feedstock. Try to minimize runoff. The material should then be turned for an even EM-1® Waste Treatment application. Dilution of EM-1® Waste Treatment will vary depending on total water volume needed to attain proper moisture.
Turn (aerate) the compost once a month until maturity.
EM-1® Waste Treatment can be applied at a low rate (1 liter/ton) when compost is mature to further increase microbial density and compost quality.

EM Technology® has been used around the world in the treatment of solid waste landfills. The motto of “acting locally” can be taken quite literally if we were all to incorporate the use of Effective Microorganisms™ at home by treating all of our food and green wastes “locally”. Solid wastes are inevitable in today’s society. How we manage the wastes is really the problem, not having them. Throwing items that have some usable value is not management, but waste. Incineration of wastes leads to other problems with air pollution and also relies heavily on fuels to produce high heat for the process to work properly. Materials that go into landfills include, but are not limited to, green wastes, food wastes, metals, plastics, construction debris, etc.

Landfills are maintained under strict regulations that require daily covers, dust control, odor control, and leachate management for air and groundwater protection. Landfill managers are concerned with these factors and compaction rates as well. Landfill gases are required to be captured as they could be explosive and are often flared because they are loaded with impurities that prevent them from being efficient energy sources. Increasing compaction rates and cleaning the gases with Effective Microorganisms™ so they can be used could save taxpayers millions of dollars per month on a national level.

Odor and Dust Control:

Using EM-1® in the daily cover and in the water trucks that are used to control dust, odor, and increase compaction rates, are simple ways to better-manage a landfill. An added benefit is that EM-1® Waste Treatment will eliminate odor on contact, making for better neighbor relations and better working conditions for employees. Hydrogen sulfide has been implicated in breathing problems in a study in Ohio. Eliminating H2S, as EM-1® has been proven to do in wastewater treatment, can also connect EM-1® Waste Treatment with worker safety.

Leachate and Landfill Gases:

H2S is a contaminant to the landfill gas. Removing it will clean the gas and make it burn more efficiently. Some landfills, depending on the amount of organic materials that are added to them, will produce varying amounts of methane gas and leachate. Many landfill operations that aggressively separate organic matter going into the landfill will not produce a significant amount of methane, yet they are still required to install gas collection systems. As has been demonstrated with EM-1® applications in several countries, there is the possibility of eliminating the production of methane gas in the first place, eliminating the need for the expensive gas collection system. The eventual goal is to see that large amounts of EM-1® are added to the leachate and the incoming wastes to detoxify the leachate, eliminating the worries of groundwater contamination. On this level more research needs to be done, however, based on research in other areas of waste treatment, there is a high probability of achieving these goals.

Application Rates:

In a 5,000-gallon water truck, 100 gallons of Effective Microorganisms™ EM-1® are added to control odor and increase compaction rates (as was done at the Tangerine landfill in the photo above). The beneficial microbes in the EM-1® will stop pathogenic microbial growth (as has been laboratory tested) and set the growing conditions for other beneficial microbes in the landfill which will increase the decomposition of the organic matter in the landfill. At this ratio, the methanogen groups of microbes will not be able to grow and methane gas will not be produced.

Daily cover made of organic material can be mixed with EM-1® at a rate of 1.5 gallons per ton of material.

With operations this large, Activated EM-1® is used with the above ratios.

Effective Microorganisms™ can be applied through bioreactors as well. The application ratio will be 1 part Activated EM-1® to 1,000 gallons of water.

The following application recommendation are guidelines to producing high quality compost with less intensive management.

Contact EM America for customer EM-1® Waste Treatment composting programs that will meet your goals.

Procedures:

Apply EM-1® Waste Treatment as soon as the material is consolidated (or windrowed) and preferably before the material has become thermophillic (temperatures above 120 degrees F).
These recommended rates of EM-1® Waste Treatment application are guidelines and may need to be adjusted for site-specific conditions and unique feedstocks. Activated EM-1® Waste Treatment should be used for all applications due to cost savings. Consult with EM America for specific commercial composting Activation instructions.

FeedstockEM-1® Waste Treatment
(Application Rate/Ton)Application Timing

100% Green Waste1 gal. Activated EM-1® Waste TreatmentDay 1

50% Green Waste/50% Food waste or other agricultural waste (i.e. livestock waste)2 gal. Activated EM-1® Waste TreatmentDay 1 (1 gal.) and Day 14 (1 gal.)
Add EM-1® Waste Treatment to the water used to hydrate the feedstock. Try to minimize runoff. The material should then be turned for an even EM-1® Waste Treatment application. Dilution of EM-1® Waste Treatment will vary depending on total water volume needed to attain proper moisture.
Turn (aerate) the compost once a month until maturity.
EM-1® Waste Treatment can be applied at a low rate (1 liter/ton) when compost is mature to further increase microbial density and compost quality.

Sprouts are one of nature’s most nutritious foods, full of energy and nutrition. All of the energy and the blueprint of a mature plant are contained in its seed, along with all the potential of its future being as well as the ancestry of its lineage. Sprouting seeds is one of the easiest and quickest ways to create live foods for use in a raw food, vegan diet.

Better Sprouting with Effective Microorganisms

While sprouts are not very difficult to grow, there are certain issues to be dealt with to insure that they are produced successfully, with due consideration for safety and optimum quality. The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Arizona is producing sprouts using Effective Microorganisms.

They use the following methods for producing wheat grass, buckwheat lettuce and sunflower sprouts:

Methods:

1st soak: 20 minutes in a weak hydrogen peroxide solution (1-2 tbsp. 2% hydrogen peroxide per 2 quarts of water and seeds. This is to clean the seeds thoroughly of any surface dirt, dust and spores that might contaminate the sprouting seeds.

2nd soak: 20 minutes in a 1:100 dilution of EM-1® in water. This helps provide a probiotic environment for the sprouting seeds to ward off re-contamination by spores.

3rd soak: 8-10 hrs., or overnight in pure, clean water. We recommend using EM-X® Ceramics to help structure the soaking water for optimum results.

After soaking, trays are prepared by punching holes for good drainage (if necessary), and lining the tray with a suitable screen material, such as cheesecloth. A very thin layer of peat moss (1/2 inch or less) is placed in the bottom of the tray, and the soaked seeds are layered on top of the peat moss to the depth of one seed spread evenly over the surface of the tray. A standard 10 by 20 inch tray will hold 1.5 to 2 cups of seeds. The filled trays are given a gentle spray of water to help settle the seeds before being placed in the rack to start the germination process. A dark cover is placed over the sprouts, which is typically just another empty tray. Once the sprouts reach the top of the covering tray, it is removed and the sprouts are exposed to sunlight to green up.

Harvesting:

Buckwheat and sunflower sprouts will benefit from a rinse with a strong spray of water to knock off the hulls (seed coats) that still cling to some of the sprouts. Then, the sprouts can be harvested using a scissors or sharp knife. A final rinse in cold water will help make them nice and crisp for eating. To enhance flavor and quality and reduce spoilage, a few drops of EM-X® can be added to the final rinse/soak water, and/or EM-X® Ceramics can be used to structure the water. For wheat sprouts, a light spray with EM-X® water or EM-X® Ceramics structured water before harvesting will enhance the anti-oxidants in the wheat grass juice.

Courtesy: Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center – Patagonia, Arizona