Hi Cordelia This article may be of help to you > > THE FIRST YEAR OF GOING ORGANIC > for high value intensive growing of organic crops on small farms. > > This is a method that has been developed over the last 10 years to overcome > that difficult transition period. The aim is to get correct soil nutrient/ > energy levels to grow crops that are free from weeds, pests and disease and > are of the highest quality in appearance, taste and keeping. > Using a mixture of effective micro-organisms, organic liquid fertilisers as > a foliar spray, correcting nutrient imbalances with organic fertilisers and > some �restricted use� fertilisers reduces the downside affect of not using > chemical based fertilisers and chemicals. The aim is to effectively > stimulate the soil microbiology that starts you down the path to a healthy > soil before you start the transition to certification. > > G Have a soil analysis done. Use products like Lime Reactive rock > Phosphate, Feldspar [Potash], Rock Dusts and Sulphur to remineralise your > soils and to feed the soil micro-organisms. > > G Start a green cropping rotation using lupins, tick beans, rye oats, > buckwheat, mustard, corn, vetches etc to build up the organic matter > content of the soil and as a food source for the effective microganisms. > > G Use effective microrganism products to stimulate the soil > microbiological activity > > G Start a regular liquid organic fertiliser spray programme using > fish, seaweed, comfrey,molasses and compost teas. Spray on a regular basis at the > rate of 1 to 40 either weekly or around the full moon period for best > results. > > G The use of biodynamic preparations, barrel compost, and biodynamic > potentised sprays will enhance this process even further. The spreading of > your first compost/ mineralised compost will continue the process of > improving organic matter levels, the humus content, worm activity and the > soil micro-organism activity. > This is only an overview of a practice currently being used. Each > farmer/grower needs to develop their own cycles and rhythms to suit their > own crops, soil types, resources and market requirements. > > How to monitor the process > and the changes that occur in the first year. > > Around about the autumn, winter, spring and summer solstice period record > the changes that have occurred. Continue this over the next few years at > about the same time and you will see all the effects. > > G Record weed types. Weeds will tell you a lot about your soil. As the > weeds change, so does the soil. > G Look at the soil profile and measure the changes. > G Worm count. A worm count from about 80-100 plus/ per square metre > indicates good worm activity, an improving soil structure and an increase in > soil microbiological activity. [The higher the count the better the soil > will be] > G Observe the state of crops grown. Are they pest and disease free? > Are they maturing better? Is the quality better? > G Compare with previous results and see the difference. > > EM > EM stands for Effective Microorganisms. EM consists of mixed cultures of > naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms that can be applied as > inoculants to increase the microbial diversity of soils and plants. These > cultures include various bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes and other > microorganisms. > > Research shows that the inoculation of EM cultures to the soil/plant > ecosystem can improve soil quality, soil health and the growth, yield and > quality of crops. Similar benefits have been shown as a result of using EM > in animal systems. > > EM can significantly enhance the beneficial effects of good soil and crop > management practices such as crop rotations, use of organic inputs including > compost, conservation tillage, crop residue recycling and bio-control of > pests. EM helps the decomposition process of organic materials and during > fermentation produces normally unavailable organic acids such as lactic > acid, acetic acid, amino acid, malic acid, other bioactive substances and > vitamins. A key ingredient in this process is organic matter, which is > supplied by recycling crop residues, green manures and animal manures to > increase the humus content in soil. > > Lactic acid bacteria, a major ingredient in EM, suppress pathogenic > microbes, both directly and indirectly, through the production of > actinomycetes. EM also produces an antioxidant effect, which improves the > immune system of both plants and animals. > > EM (Effective Microorganisms) is a group of formulations of microorganism > that have been developed and patented by Dr. Teruo Higa of the > University of Ryukus in Japan with the objective of > effectively working together to create living soil capable of > producing high yields of > crops while sustaining its own processes > and eventually becoming capable of > > synthesising its own nutrients. > Each formulation (EM2, EM3, EM4) is dominated by a different group of > organisms that work together to create a specific result. > EM1 is a combination of EM2, EM3 and EM4 > EM2 and EM3 are used on growing crops to help make nutrients available from > organic matter and minerals in the soil. > EM2 formula is dominated by yeast, photosynthetic bacteria and ray fungi; > EM3 formula is dominated by photosynthetic bacteria, azotobacters and > actinomycetes. > EM4 is used to help decompose crop residues and other forms of organic > matter added to the soil. EM4 formula is dominated by lactobacilli. > Research with EM is underway in the United States and elsewhere. It has been > extensively researched in Japan and is widely used by thousands of farmers > there. > In Nature Farming, we attempt to promote the development of a living soil. > We follow the role model we observe in nature. We avoid all biocides, even > organic ones, and all synthetic chemicals and additives. This helps preserve > the living nature of healthy soil. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, > herbicides and defoliants, and especially soil fumigants, all destroy part > or all of the normal soil microflora. > > We fertilise with compost and incorporate residues of crops and green > manures into the soil. We also treat the soil with Effective Microorganism > (EM), especially during the transitional phase when we are converting land > that has been farmed chemically in the past. The microbial inoculants help > establish a good balance of micro-organisms in the soil. The effectiveness > of these inoculants is not based on the numbers of organisms or the volume > of the material applied. Rather, it is based on the fact that we are > applying formulations that are composed of complex communities, that are in > balance and operating in a symbiotic manner. The species diversity of the > inoculants helps to supply the missing links in the microflora of the soil, > and the enzymes present in the inoculants help to create enzyme bridges that > link up the natural communities in the soil and allow them to work together. > In this way, the life of the soil is enhanced. > According to Dr. Higa, soils that have been treated with agricultural > chemicals are disease-inducing soils. The balance of normal microflora has > been upset and disease organisms take over dominance in the soil. Soil-borne > diseases then become a problem. When we stop using these harsh chemicals and > start using compost and effective micro-organisms, the soil quickly becomes > disease-resistant due to the natural competition between the beneficial > organisms and the disease organisms. Over a period of a few years, the soil > becomes highly balanced, zymogenic, and eventually synthesises most of its > own nutrients." > For more info look up Nature Farming and Effective Microorganisms http://ncatark.uark.edu/~steved/Nature-Farm-EM.html
Cheer Tony Robinson Rambler FLowers New Zealand
