Effective microorganism

Effective Microorganisms ( EM) is a registered trademark of EM Research Organization Inc. Japan, are sold under a variety of commercial products for the agricultural, household and union health area.

The starting point is always the so-called "effective microorganisms " which is a mixture of different microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) According to the manufacturer, which will cause the advertised positive qualities. The effects claimed and the concept of EM are doubting strong scientific viewpoint.

Products

Products that are sold under the name EM, include both the microbial mixture itself as standing with EMs in conjunction finished products. The microbe -Concentrate is referred to as EM-1 and is not intended to contain organisms of different taxa described in more detail. So are bacteria of the order of lactic acid bacteria and the unspecified group " photosynthetic bacteria " be included. Furthermore, given as the active ingredient yeasts taxonomically are also very diverse. More detailed information is not provided by the manufacturer.

In older publications, however, also rely only on manufacturer information, actinomycetes are still specified as an ingredient. An unsubstantiated statement lists individual species, including Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

Other products are so-called EM- ceramics. Since these are burnt after treatment with EMS at high temperatures, no microbe to be active due to the pyrolysis of organic material. An effect is in accordance with the manufacturer to " fine energetic resonances ", originating from the microbial mixture and transferred to the ceramic, justified.

Advertised effects

From the Manufacturer a range of benefits in the use of EMs are promised. The Anwendungsspektum extends not only to the soil improvement. Below is an overview of the advertised uses and effects is described.

In the agricultural sector:

• Improvement of the physical, chemical and biological condition of the soil
• Accelerating of the composting
• Promotion of germination, root development, flowering, fruit set and maturation
• Improve the quality and durability of silage
• Improvement of the characteristics and emission of manure

In the horticultural and budgetary union area:

• Rinsing, washing and cleaning agents
• Improve water quality, reduce the growth of algae in aquariums and ponds

In the health area

• Drinks to strengthen the immune system ( probiotic)
• Cosmetic products

Alleged action

The concept of effective microorganisms goes according to own data back to the Japanese professor Teruo Higa of Horticulture. This will have discovered that there is in the soil should be three types of microorganisms: positive ( anabolic / regenerative ), negative ( depleting / degenerative ) and opportunistic microbes.

After Higa's view, the first two groups can be dominant. Of those dominant group is in the majority, followed by the opportunists and strengthening their impact. That is, whether to run or rot -building processes will be determined by a quantitatively small group of species of microorganisms. Therefore, one could determine with relatively small amounts of additionally supplied microorganisms, the process direction in an environment (soil, water, air, intestines, etc.). Since the Effective Microorganisms, according to Higa, be regarded as dominant renewable, natural environments could be favorably influenced with their help.

Application

To improve the soil or manure addition, the designated as a stock solution EM-1 to be activated first. To this end, a smaller amount of the stock solution is added to a molasses solution and incubated for 7 days at about 25-45 ° C anaerobically. The solution thus obtained is referred to as activated EM (EM -A) and can either be spent directly in the ground, can be sprayed on plants or mixed with organic fertilizer. The recognized by EMs to ferment organic fertilizers are also called Bokashi.

Scientific studies

Study Location

Much of the information can be found on EMs are unpublished reports or articles which have undergone either no scientific review process ( peer review ) or meet little scientific standards. Much research on the topic was conducted in Asian countries at universities, which often do not publish in independent journals or conference proceedings, reports are in, which are also not subjected to peer review, published. Many of the positive studies on EMs are poorly documented and it is not clear what is based the indicated positive effects. There are also commissioned studies that give the manufacturer and distributor of EM in order and come invariably to positive results. This information is offered by the manufacturers and distributors of the products mostly from their websites for inspection.

In the following, only those studies are considered that are published in international journals and have gone through a scientific review process.

Studies to improve the soil and increase earnings

In a wide-ranging study that examined the effects of EM field experiments under the conditions of organic farming in the long-term experiment (4 years) on various crops (potatoes, barley, wheat, alfalfa), the claims of the manufacturer in no points could be confirmed. The study conducted in Switzerland in Agroscope study examined the effects of EM alone or in combination with organic fertilizer ( Bokashi ). All effects on soil and yield alone could be attributed to the fertilizer effect of the applied substrates, since in addition to control doses tested (without EM) with sterilized EM -A. Changes in the microbial composition of the soil, as they are claimed by the manufacturer side, also could not be confirmed.

Similar results comes a previous experimental study, which has identified soil changes and earnings based on incubation and pot experiments. Here, too, was observed with the sterilized EM-A, the effect of the pure substrate addition. As a result, it was found that the effects emanating from EM, based only on the addition of organic fertilizer, which is always associated with the administration of EM, and not to the introduction of living microorganisms

In another study, the Bokashi ( Compost ) - made ​​of banana once with EM and EM sterilized without EM ( water) - to fertilization of banana plants used in tropical conditions, there is also no significant differences between the different treatments. Revenue growth versus the unfertilized control can be alone attributed to the incorporated compost.

Studies, which do not perform comparisons with sterilized EM, lead to different results. In these studies can not distinguish whether an influence of soil parameters and yield changes in plants due to be attached living microorganisms or due to the introduced organic fertilizer ( substrate effect ) occurs.

So was evident in a study ( Lolium perenne ) on yield of perennial ryegrass in the pot experiment under the infuence of fermented manure (with and without EM), no difference between treatments. Only the control without fertilizer application showed significant differences.

A study on the improvement of alluvial soils for agricultural production could see no difference in the field experiment, whether the chicken manure used for fertilization was treated with or without EM. The yield increase was solely attributable to the administration of the chicken dung.

A positive effect of EM on cotton plants want a study found, however, is recorded only when it is fertilized simultaneously with mineral fertilizer and compost. A sole use of EM showed no effects.

A 11 -year study in China describes a positive effect of EM in the yield of wheat. As with the EM, higher amounts of raw sugar was used for composting of the introduced fertilizer ever, and the yield increase only slightly turned out, a pure substrate effect can not be excluded.

A reduction in yield at Basil in a pot experiment is observed with use of EM-A in various form of application ( spraying the leaves, application on seed and substrate). The study's authors advise against the use of EM in herbs in the pot culture.

In field trials in Tenerife grown beetroot showed treatment with EM or EM Bokashi and compared with the control without any fertilizer application no significant differences in yield and ingredients.

Studies on compost production and pest control with EM

Composting haushaltlicher waste with a Schnellkomposter showed an EM treatment of organic wastes no accelerated composting compared to the untreated control. The quality of the compost, expressed by the C / N ratio did not show a significant difference.

In a Dutch study, the effect of Bokashi - balls ( mixed with EM mud balls ) on the growth of blue-green algae and to a reduction of the blue-green algae bloom, as was claimed by the manufacturer, was studied. It was, however, no reduction of the blue-green algae, but increased growth. This could be attributed to the fertilizer effect of the balls. Only in very high concentrations, the balls showed a growth inhibition effect on the blue-green algae. This was explained by the high turbidity that caused the mud.

The infestation of rhododendron plants with the fungus Phytophthora ramorum pest could not be prevented in an experimental study by EM. Also appeared in the treatment with EM no change in symptoms. In contrast, prevented other preparations, which were also examined in the study, both transmission and symptoms of the disease.

Criticism

The exact composition of the microorganisms is not known. A check of the composition does not occur. Neither the manufacturer nor distributor of the product indicate which control point the products checked for unwanted germs or residues. To date, no patents, but only brand names were registered.

The broadcast ARD Guide: Home Garden has found in a test that " Effective Microorganisms, as we have applied them, had no effect on soil or plant parameters".