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‘Effective microorganisms technology’ is a method developed by Professor T. Higa of Japan in which a mixed culture of beneficial microorganisms (primarily photosynthetic and lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, and fermenting fungi) is applied as an innoculant to increase the microbial diversity of soils. This improves the soil quality and health, which improves the growth, yield, and quality of crops. In the variant being tested at ICIMOD it is combined with composting, to make an easy to prepare and very effective organic fertiliser.
Composting is a largely biological process in which microorganisms (both aerobic and anaerobic) decompose organic matter and lower the carbon-nitrogen ratio of refuse resulting in a final product of well-rotted compost. Compost has a high content of organic matter and important nutrients and is very useful for soil conservation and improving and maintaining soil fertility. In cooler climates, however, and with coarse material, the process of composting can be quite slow.
The EM composting method uses effective microorganisms and molasses to speed up the composting process and provide an improved compost product. Vegetation, especially weeds from cropping alleys and unwanted (exotic) forest weeds like banmara (Euphatorium adenophorum), is chopped and mixed with a small amount of goat manure and fermented organic matter containing beneficial microorganisms, and 1% of a solution of EM in molasses. The mixture is placed in piles on the ground. In the summer, it transforms into mature compost in 5-6 weeks.
Natural Spring Water Harvesting There is a natural spring on the site at the Sungure Khola Chiso Pani Dhara. ...
Lining waterways is one way of reducing soil losses through seepage and preventing erosion of the waterway bed. Stone or ...
Fertilizing kiwi plants is an important part of their care and ensures a bumper crop and delicious kiwi fruit. The ...
Large amounts of seeds and seedlings of useful plants from ICIMOD’s plant nursery have been distributed to farmers and farmers ...
ICIMOD has a number of ongoing activities in biodiversity conservation. At the Knowledge Park at Godavari, the emphasis ...
Different Approaches in the Different Physiographic Zones The site has an elevation range from 1,540 to 1,800 masl and ...
Cover crops are essential for #soil health and varieties of white clover, peanut plants and alfa-alfa are demonstrated at our ...
Developing realistic opportunities for income generation is one of the most challenging tasks of development in mountain areas ...