Baikal EM-1

Baikal EM-1 is a microbiological fertilizer designed to improve the fertility of soil of any structure and composition in the garden, and soil mixtures for indoor plants and seedlings.

Active ingredient:

• lactic acid bacteria
• nitrogen-fixing bacteria
• photosynthetic bacteria
• saccharomycetes (microscopic yeast)
• actinomycetes (radiant fungi)
• waste products of all these microorganisms

Chemical class: microbiological fertilizer group. IV hazard class. Shelf life of the product is 1 year. Store with the lid closed in a cool dark place from + 10 to + 25 ° С.

Available as:

• concentrated solution in white plastic bottles with a green lid without a box (manufacturer EM-Cooperation LLC)
• stock concentrate (bacteria in suspended animation) in white bottles with a yellow lid in an orange box (manufacturers of EM-Cooperation LLC and ARGO)

Mother concentrate requires additional preparation to ripen the working solution.

Comment rukodelie.net/plants: speaking of purity, Baikal is no EM1 a real fertilizer, it only contains microorganisms that, once in the soil, begin to transform the nutrients available there into a form accessible to plants, at the same time synthesizing humic acids, a number of amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, antibiotic substances. But all beneficial bacteria and fungi have certain requirements for living conditions and a nutrient medium (see below), over time their number (CFU) in the soil decreases and it needs to be replenished.

Baikal EM-1 application

Strains of beneficial microorganisms contained in Baikal EM-1 after preliminary preparation (in a nutrient solution), activate the activity of beneficial microflora, accelerate the processes of humus formation, and to some extent, due to competition of the nutrient medium, suppress the reproduction of pathogens of fungal and bacterial plant diseases.

The solution based on EM drugs is used to create more favorable conditions for plant growth, increase general immunity, reduce the growth of pathogenic microflora, watering the soil or any organic residues (in a compost heap or layer of organic matter in beds): to accelerate the decomposition of peels, peel, green mown grass and hay, small branches, straw, tree bark, tops. As a result, nutrients in the soil become more accessible to plants.

Baikal EM-1 instruction

Dilute EM preparations only with chlorine-free water! The acidity of the EM drug (pH) ― 2.8-3.5. 

Finished concentrate consumption rates

Solution Baikal EM-1, which comes in the form of a liquid concentrate, in bottles of white plastic with a capacity of 100, 250, 500 and 1000 ml, cannot be added without dilution! It already has a nutrient medium for microorganisms - you don't need to add molasses, sugar or honey, just dilute it with water:

• to treat the seeds before sowing, dilute the contents of the bottle 1:1000 and soak the seeds for 30-60 minutes
• to prepare the soil, dilute the contents of the 1:1000 bottle and carefully pour the soil at the rate of 3 liters of working solution per 1 sq. m of land: 7-10 days before planting in the spring or immediately after harvesting
• for spraying on a leaf of young seedlings, dilute Baikal EM1 in a ratio of 1:2000 and spray the leaves every 7-10 days
• for leaf spraying and watering of adult vegetative plants, dilute the EM preparation in a ratio of 1:1000 and spray or water every 10-14 days; it is useful to treat plants that are in adverse conditions (hypothermia, change of place, signs of diseases in alternation with fungicides, etc.), the rate of application is 2-3 liters per 1 sq. m of land
• to accelerate the decomposition of organic residues, dilute the microbiological fertilizer in a ratio of 1:100 and water the compost heap at the rate of 5 liters per 1 sq. m, take into account that the solution is retained in the upper 15-20 cm of the processed organic matter, that is, it is advisable not to water a large heap with a large amount of solution, but to lay in layers, interspersed with irrigation of the EM drug, then be sure to cover with a film
• to prepare greenhouses for planting, the manufacturer recommends to dilute Baikal EM1 in a concentration of 1:100 a week before planting vegetables and spill the soil at the rate of 1 liter per 1 sq. m of area, in autumn you can water the soil after harvesting

How to breed Baikal EM-1

If you are preparing a solution for indoor flowers in a small amount, it is easier to use a medical syringe: for dilution 1:1000 take:

• 1 mL of product per 1 L of water (1:1000)
• 5 mL of product per 5 L of water (1:1000)
• 10 mL of product per 10 L of water (1:1000)
• 100 ml per 10 liters of water (1:100)

In a concentration of 1:100, you can prepare soil in pots, similar to greenhouse treatments: 10 ml of Lake Baikal per 1 liter of water .

This must be done in such cases: if you have flooded the plant, the roots are rotten, you take the plant out of the pot, inspect and remove the rot, rinse the root system in a solution of a fungicide, for example, phytosporin. And the soil in which the flooded plant grew is scattered on a tray, placed in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 200 ° C. Then pour into a basin, cool to room temperature and first moisten with boiled water (slightly wet, but not damp), then water with Baikal EM-1 solution (at the rate of 2 ml per 1 liter of water). Leave for about 1 month at room temperature, covering with a film, but not too tightly, and periodically moistening from the spray bottle - the ground should not dry out! After 4 weeks, other plants can be planted in this soil again (adding other components if necessary).

If you need to dilute a large amount of Baikal working solution, you simply dilute the contents of the bottle in a container suitable in volume: a basin, bucket, watering can, bath or plastic barrel. Avoid using galvanized containers.

Baikal EM-1 concentrate

Baikal EM-1, which is produced in a small bottle of 40 ml (from Agro) or 30 ml (from LLC-Cooperation) and an orange box is called a concentrate - this is not so, it is correct to call it a mother concentrate. It is used exclusively after the cultivation of beneficial microorganisms, of which there are very few, and this is only the basis for the preparation of concentrate.

Subsequently, after growing the useful microflora, another dilution of the resulting concentrate with water in a ratio of 1:1000 is necessary. Bacteria require fast carbohydrates or sugars to activate. Therefore, it is not enough to dilute the contents of the bottle with water; it is necessary to add beet molasses or sugar (in the amount of 1 tbsp. spoon per 10 liters of solution). Manufacturers also allow the addition of honey. But the introduction of honey or jam from berries such as raspberries and currants, due to their bactericidal properties, is permissible only in parts, in portions a little every other day. It is better to purchase the drug "EM-molasses" - a special nutrient medium.

The consumption rates of Baikal EM-1 mother concentrate for the preparation of a concentrated solution depend on whether you add sugar, ordinary molasses, or EM molasses to the solution. If you add sugar (or honey), then water will need three liters, if EM-molasses - then four. Due to the nutrient medium of EM molasses, a more rapid development of soil-forming bacteria and yeast occurs, and it is possible to obtain a larger amount of working solution, i.e. it is more economical and faster.

Preparation of concentrated solution

• boil 3-4 liters of filtered water, cool to 20-25 °
С
• pour water into one three-liter jar or two two-liter
• add 40 ml of Baikal concentrate EM-1
• add 2-4 tablespoons (30-60g) honey or EM molasses
• cover the jar with a lid and leave at a temperature of 20-25 ° С for 5-7 days
• from day 2-3, open the lid to release the accumulated gases
• important: fermentation should take place without air access, the liquid is poured under the neck and should not stand without a lid

The resulting solution is a concentrate and must be diluted again before use. Store not more than 6-8 months, at room temperature, in a dark place. By smell, the solution may seem fresh for a longer time, but the number of beneficial microorganisms by that time will decrease to such an extent that the effectiveness from use drops tenfold.

Working Solution Preparation and Application Limits

The full bottle cap holds exactly 5 ml of the EM drug.

• for watering plants dilute Baikal EM-1 in a proportion of 1:1000 (1 ml per 1 liter of water for indoor plants and 10 ml per 10 liters of water for garden plants), water every 7 days, alternating with watering with ordinary water
• to speed up the composting of heaps of organic matter, dilute Baikal EM-1 in a ratio of 1:100 (100 ml per 10 liters of water), spill organic matter layer by layer, laying in a heap. If organic residues are laid on the bottom of the trench when sealing the beds. Be sure to give them infusion, protecting with plastic wrap from rains for 2-3 weeks, then add fertile land and plant
• for watering one tree, the consumption is 10-20 liters, berry bush (currant raspberries, gooseberries) - 5-10 liters, for herbaceous plants, vegetables and flowers, the consumption is 2-3 liters per square meter. m of land

Why do you need EM molasses

Manufacturers of EM technologies were concerned with the issue of a nutrient medium for soil-forming microorganisms and produced the drug "EM-molasses." It consists of specially prepared, purified black molasses, enriched with a complex of micro- and macronutrients, as the manufacturer claims to be completely unique. In fact, the exact composition of molasses is unknown, but I must say that for the development of all soil microorganisms, special nutrients are really needed. For example, lactic acid bacteria, in addition to mono- and disaccharides, require a number of vitamins: lactoflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, nicotinic and folic acid, biotin, as well as purines and amino acids. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria need a special nutrient medium containing components dissolved in water: potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, calcium sulfate, sodium molybdate, iron sulfate, sucrose, phosphorite, in addition to carbohydrates and organic acids.

Thus, if possible, use three components to prepare a working solution of soil fertility improver from mother liquor (in an orange box): Baikal EM-1, Em molasses and water.

When not to use EM

• Do not water Baikal with a solution EM-1 plants with a decayed root system! Only healthy plants can be watered with the solution.
• EM preparations are activators of organic fertilizers, so they need to be applied only to soil containing organic matter: compost, manure, sawdust, bark, spruce needles, peat, sheet earth, cleaning, mowed grass, etc. It makes no sense to try to improve the composition of the soil containing mainly sand or clay - i.e. EM technologies improve the soil, if there is something to improve.
• Do not water EM drugs more than once a week.
• Do not water the soil with micronutrient solution at a temperature below + 10 °
С.

Baikal EM-1 in a compost heap

For compost to be effective, humus was formed from organic residues, moisture (compost humidity 65-75%), air and food for microorganisms are required. We have moisture and air, we introduce microorganisms with Baikal preparations EM-1 (or analogues), but in order to get the right nutrient medium for the vital activity of humus-forming microorganisms, you need to create a certain ratio between carbon and nitrogen. More precisely, carbon should be 15-25 times more than nitrogen. These two elements are contained in different organics in different quantities, so you cannot dump everything into a compost heap and wait for a miracle.

Sawdust, leaf litter, straw, paper contain more carbon. Nitrogen is more contained in legume tops (peas, beans, soybeans, beans), freshly cut grass and hay, manure, chicken droppings. Vegetable peelings belong to intermediate materials, as it were, universal. Therefore, pay attention to what you put in a heap!

The maturation time of compost in a heap averages 1-1.5 years. By the way, a compost heap is much more efficient than a compost pit due to the fact that the penetration of air necessary for the vital activity of a number of microorganisms (for example, euactinomycetes that process cellulose) is difficult in the pit and there is a greater likelihood of acidification from excess dampness or decay.

Baikal compatibility EM-1

All EM drugs are not compatible with seed pickers, herbicides, fungicides and biofungicides! Concomitant use with other drugs with an alkaline reaction is not allowed!

It is not prohibited, but undesirable to combine Baikal EM-1 with growth regulators. The issue has not been studied.