Monday, October 14, 2013

IMO Frass

Indigenous Microorganisms and Effective Microorganisms are used in Korean gardening methods where bacteria is fermented and grown, along with other beneficial organisms for the benefit of the garden's soil web and to stimulate the plants natural defenses. 

My reason for culturing the microorganisms found in frass is to create suppressive isolates; then colonize the rhizosphere with nonspecific fungal antagonists and initiate a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to fortify the plant's defenses by triggering a hypersensitive response.  I will also attempt to artificially trigger SAR by spraying this homemade plant activator on the foliage in hope of growing plants highly resistant to a broad range of pathogens.

The video above shows the first step of my IMO Frass experiment.  
I will include more videos as I progress

I attempted to find other studies involving frass.  The research papers
and
An Overview of Plant Defenses against Pathogens and Herbivores
were the only ones that even came close so I'm including these links for those who wish to go deeper.
The basic idea came about when I began to research Indigenous Micro Organisms - IMO and Bakashi Effective Microorganisms.  Below is a collection of video links to the material I watched
     IMO Farming part 1

Korean Natural Farming - IMO Part 1

Korean Natural Farming - IMO Part 2

Korean Natural Farming - IMO Part 3

Bryan McGrath created the series above.  I have summarized his method below.
IMO 1 - Start local indigenous micro organisms on hard cooked rice.  Cover with inoculate such as grass, bamboo or leaves.
IMO 2 - Mix 50/50 by weight with brown sugar.
IMO 3 - Mix with wheat bran and flour.  Mix 3 parts water to 1 part IMO 2. Combine this with 12 lb wheat bran and 1 cup flour till moist but not soaked.  Let compost till cool and clumped with mycillium.
IMO 4 - Mix with soil or bakashi compost.  1:1 ratio.

Another source of information comes from SQWworm Sosiety   Bryan McGrath is also featured in on this site but the methods are slightly different




I'm basing this experiment on information from 
http://www.onfrass.com/docs/One%20sheet_Applications%20and%20Benefits.pdf
where I found this:

INSECT CHITIN–Chitin stimulates the plant’s auto-immune system to create plant secondary metabolites(PSMsor“exudates”)such asChitinase Enzyme,Terpenes, Flavinoids,Alkaloids and Amino Acids,which protect plantsfrom Pests and Pathogens–The absolute best Fungal Food for Compost Teas–Works exceptionally well with Mycorrhizae–Prevents/Kills Root Rot (fungal pathogens in the rhizosphere)–Kills Root-Feeding Nematodes and their eggs

Chitinases
are enzymes that catalyze the degradation of chitin




Chitin stimulates the plant's auto-immune system to create plant secondary metabolite s (PSM s or “exudates ”) such as Chitinase Enzyme, Terpenes, Flavinoids, Alkaloids and Amino Acids, which protect plants from Pests and Pathogens
Plants often wait until pathogens are detected before producing toxic chemicals or defense-related proteins because of the high energy costs and nutrient requirements associated with their production and maintenance. This phenomenon is called systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and represents a heightened state of readiness in which plant resources are mobilized in case of further attack. Researchers have learned to artificially trigger SAR by spraying plants with chemicals called plant activators. These substances are gaining favor in the agricultural community because they are much less toxic to humans and wildlife than fungicides or antibiotics, and their protective effects can last much longer. - An Overview of Plant Defenses against Pathogens and Herbivores


My frass experiment uses the IMO method, but Effective Microorganisms are very similar.  Below are written instructions

Making Effective Microorganisms from Scratch.
Mix one cup rice with two cups water and shake.  Strain out the rice.  Cover and secure a paper towel over the top of the jar.  Leave in the dark, between 68 and 77 degrees F for five to seven days to culture the active microbes.  The mixture should smell sour.   Add 10 parts milk (about 5 quarts) to the one part strained rice wash, and let it ferment for 14 days.  The rice wash grows many microbes,  both beneficial and pathogenic.  The milk kills off everything but the lactobacillus. Strain the solids off the top of the bucket. The yellow liquid is purified lactobacillus serum.  Dilute the lactobacillus serum in a 1:20 ratio with water and add it to your compost 


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