CASE STUDIES IN THE APPLICATION OF BENEFICIAL
MICROBES/ EFFECTIVE MICRO-ORGANISMS (EM)
INTRODUCTION
A series of case study examples are described below and involve field experiences by individuals
and companies who use microbes to balance their work environment. This can include soils,
water, plant and animal conditions. These examples also include hints on microbe applications.
The following examples have been either passed to R2M from a range of sources or are reports
from R2M experiences with clients.
HORSES
Fly control- We no longer use any fly control poisons or traps, we spray the complete stables and
yard 3 times a week to start. Once established you will not have to spray as often but after rains
etc it is usually a good idea to spray more frequently. We use a ratio of about 100-200ml of EM
(water) to 8 litres of water.
We also spray the compost heap with EM (water) about once every two weeks to keep things
going there. Our neighbours (we live in a very horsy area) are always commenting on how we
have no fly's but nobody believes we don't use poisons (strange how people can't believe that
microbes actually work). It does take a few weeks to get established and the best time to start is
probably
at the beginning of summer before the fly's start becoming a problem.
Wounds- We treat small wounds on the horses and have always been amazed at the speed in
which they recover. As you know horses are forever scratching themselves. A bit of diluted or
concentrated EM (water) sponged on seems to reduce the time for the wound to dry up and seal
over.
Skin Allergies- We have also had great results with EM (water) and heat rashes. Our motto has
now become "If in doubt put EM (water) on it" so as I am sure you have picked up we use it as a
first choice for most things.
Animal Housing Sheds- We have had great results in misting or fogging the stables to improve
the overall microbial conditions on all surfaces within the shed. This technique provides a
continuous process of microbial balancing or healthy environment for housed animals. The
frequency of application is based on monitoring, but at least once a week.
Animal Feed and Drinking Water- We use a Bokashi mix (ie. EM (water) misted into a mix of
wheat bran, rice bran and barley bran) to add to the dry feed. This provides a probiotic for the
animal and supports digestion and utilisation of nutrients. We add EM (water) to the drinking
water at a rate of 1:500 and this improves the water biology and also acts as an animal probiotic.
Shed Tanks and Drains- We add EM (water) to the water tanks at a rate of 1:1,000 and this
enables all water used in the shed to inoculate all wash-down areas, drains and drinking troughs.
This reduces odours and supports any fogging applications. Our drains are now much cleaner.
FOGGING ANIMAL SHEDS
Think about fogging machines for more efficient application of
liquid microbial products in animal sheds. These machines are
excellent for piggeries, chicken sheds, stables, waste and
recycling facilities, meat works, warehouses, etc. These foggers
allow users to apply the diluted product at a smaller droplet size.
The result is a lower application rate thereby diminishing both
the cost of the total quantity applied as well as the actual
treatment time. These smaller droplets remain in suspension in
the air for longer periods of time, ensuring a better coverage of
all indoor surfaces or of plant surfaces. They are lightweight and
simple to use.
CROPS
A workshop in January 2007 involved a tour of a sugar cane farm in northern Queensland that
has been using BioBase, Bio Start + and Cal-Booster for the past four years. Comparisons were
made with neighbouring soils and cane plants, to see the improvements the BioFertilisers have
made to the soil structure, water holding capacity and plant health.
T2M’s microbially enhanced Bio-fertilisers provide a bridge between standard chemical products
and organic techniques. Produced by fermentation, these products contain well-known nutrients
with a range of highly efficient microbes. T2M specializes in the ability to balance microbial
populations and has successfully done this for over 10 years in various other industries.
It is well known that a fundamental principle for healthy soils is balanced microbial activity that
maintains appropriate soil chemistry and structure. It has recently been shown that continued use
of chemical fertilisers has contributed to the decline of soil biology. In collaboration with soil
care specialists, T2M determined which groups of micro-organisms would be most important to
the agriculture industry. These were then cultured and adapted to produce “pre-digested”
nutrients from standard fertiliser blends.
One key element in making this process successful was maintaining aerobic as well as anaerobic
organisms alive and working happily together in one product. The products combine four main
groups of organisms, photosynthetic bacteria, lactobacillus, yeast and other specialist organisms
responsible for phosphorous and potassium management in soil, nitrogen fixation and carbon
cycling.
GENERAL FARM APPLICATIONS
Soil Enhancer - in lieu of fertilizer: We spray our pastures about every 4 weeks. We use a 300 L
sprayer (available at Tractor Supply and similar places for around $500.00), fill it with water and
add 25L of BioBase and 5 L of Bio Start + (or 30L of BioBase). We use 10L (of the final mix) to
spray about 1 hectare.
Animal Drinking Water: Add about 500ml of EM (water) to 500 Litres of a water trough.
Rinse Automatic Waterers with a 1:100 solution of EM (water) after cleaning.
Feeding: Add about 50ml of EM (water) as a spray to every 25 kg of feed (eg. grain, hay, etc.).
Wounds: Use a small spray bottle with straight EM (water) to spray wounds on animals: the
healing is phenomenal.
Odour control: Add about 100-150 ml of EM (water) to a 15L backpack spray or 10L spray unit
to spray on smelly urine spots in the stables or shed.
Fly Spray: Use the same backpack spray mix of EM (water) as a fly spray.
Free Choice: Mix 1 part of EM (water) with about 10 parts of water and place the bucket where
the horses or other animals can reach it. When I first tried this the bucket was empty when I
checked 5 hours later.
Extending EM (water): EM (water) can be extended into an activated EM by adding an equal
amount of liquid molasses (and other materials as required, eg. sea minerals, fulvic acid, seaweed
emulsions, etc.) to 10 parts of water. Add 20 L of water to 1 litre of EM (water) and 1 litre of
molasses. Leave for 7-10 days to ferment in a cool area away from direct sunlight. Apply as for
EM (water), BioStart +, etc.
NURSERY PLANTS
The following describes my experience in using microbially balancing on native orchids.
The ability of orchids in nature to survive and flourish depends on the conditions of the microclimate and environment, nutrient recycling and microbial activity. The nutrients can include
minerals from rocks and bark and the addition of animal or bird droppings. Also, the surface of
an orchid and the surrounding air contains microbes (ie. bacteria, fungi, etc.), moisture and
nutrients. Nitrogen and carbon in the atmosphere and soil are critical components of the
recycling process.
Microbes are present on all surfaces and are fundamental to life, nutrient production and
recycling. The biology of all plants is designed around microbial activity, as is all other life on
Earth. An orchid lives with microbes that are both generalists and specialists (eg. the reliance of
terrestrials on a mycorrhizal fungus). This relationship can be upset by changes in conditions, eg.
over-abundance of pathogenic microbes, an excessive supply of a particular nutrient and presence
of harmful chemicals. In nature, this balance is delicate and self-organising, but resilient.
Indeed, the environmental conditions in nature (eg. soil microbes, insect pollination, etc) are
essential for germination.
Native orchids that live in an unnatural environment face challenges with climatic variability,
microbial unevenness, water and nutrient inconsistency. Therefore, some human care is required
for orchids in a shadehouse or glasshouse to best assimilate the orchid’s natural needs for
survival.
There is common agreement in the literature about the application of fertilisers for native orchids
and this includes:

Organic fertilisers provide the essential slow release of nutrients.

Epiphytic orchids require regular applications of fertilisers.

Liquid fertilisers provide ease of application and ability to provide small amounts of
nutrients.

Fertilisers are best applied during the growing period of late spring and summer.
Little attention is given in the literature about managing or balancing the microbial environment
of the orchid to enable effective use of the nutrients within soil, on surfaces (eg. rocks and logs)
or as airborne nutrients. There is a symbiotic relationship that started about 400 MYA and drives
the relationship of the plant with the soil, water and air. Plants provide microbes with simple
sugars (glucose produced from photosynthesis of CO2, H2O and sunlight energy) and microbes
produce and recycle nutrients back to the plant.
My experience with plants has been that the microbial balancing is the key to plant health and
that the conventional method of fixing the chemistry of the soil to manage the plant is ineffective
without a microbial balance to convert the nutrients into a plant available form. Microbial
balancing provides the building blocks for cell development in plants, animals and humans (ie.
probiotic) and any disruption to the balance impacts on survival or health conditions.
In the case of my native orchids, the concentrate of EM (plant) is mixed with good quality water
at a ratio of 1:10. I use a 13 L spray unit in my shadehouse and sunroom to provide a regular
application during the growing season. Most growers would need to purchase either a 1L or 25L
container. 25L will make 275L of liquid spray and would be suitable for a medium to large sized
operation, including a household orchard, vegetables and flower garden. All plants will gain from
microbial balancing.
The results of the EM (plant) liquid spray have been spectacular, and include:
 Improved vigour, vitality and resilience of the plants.

Increased seed pod production.

Increased flowering abundance and period of flowering.

No disease, less insect attack and a very high level of plant survival (in a highly variable
climate)
I have a Cooktown orchid (D. bigibbum- pink) that started flowering in late September 2006 and
was still in full flower in the second week of February 2007. I acquired a flask of 12 plants of C.
sparksii in 2005 and their growth after the application of EM (plant) has been amazing. All of
my orchids have a very healthy appearance with deep green leaves.
My other observations and practices developed from applying the EM (plant) are:

Confine the spraying to the growing period and at least once per week.

Keep an open mix of organics in the pots as the increased microbial activity will gradually
turn the organic materials of leaves and wood particles to compost or fine soil and this may
cause some water logging at the bottom of the pot.

Spray the air around the pot to cover all of the surfaces of the orchid environment.

Support the occupational health and safety of the microbe’s home by avoiding chemical
sprays and fertilisers.

Only prepare a spray mix when required and complete spraying within 4 weeks. I find that
11L (1 of concentrate and 10 of water) is enough to last one month for a total area of 5 x 22
metres. Keep the concentrate and mix in a shaded or cool area, away from direct sunlight.

Other liquid additives can be added to the spray mix in small quantities (say 10-50ml) and
include compost teas, fulvic acid, herbal brews, seaweed or fish emulsions, sea minerals, and
specialist microbes.

Monitor and record the results.
WATER FEATURES AND RAINWATER TANKS
I started using EM (water) to treat water ponds, septic systems rainwater tanks and animal
drinking troughs about 3 years ago and noticed an immediate result. The algae slime in ponds
disappeared and the water became clearer. Also, small aquatic life started to appear in ponds and
drinking water from a tank lost its organic taste. The septic system is now inoculated with
beneficial microbes the occasional smells have disappeared. Animals will get a great probiotic
boost for their gut from the microbes.
Water has biology just like the soil and this biology can be affected by imbalances in standing
water (eg. tanks, ponds, troughs, etc.). I now have a routine to treat water around the house area,
and particularly the treatment of tanks that are used for watering the vegetable garden plants and
the native gardens. Plant’s respond very well to the regular dose of microbes in their water and
the vegetables are now growing vigorously with a deep green colour (healthy photosynthesis
driven by a healthy soil life).