All About IMO (Indigenous Micro-organisms)

Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)

Indigenous microorganisms are organisms that have lived in harmony in a particular region, who have contributed to the environment that they live in. IMO are the main protagonists that have brought vigor to the land in the region, and the inhabitants that through time have proliferated in diversity. IMO have the ability to withstand any weather conditions, and given the right environment, will perform their function with great vitality. They are also easily adaptable to various changes in their living conditions.

In order to apply natural farming, it is most important to achieve the right soil conditions, i.e. invigorating the life of the soil. For this, the optimal living environment for microbes and other small animals, must be provided to live and prosper. It is the goal of natural farming to revitalize the earth that is growing increasingly desolate by reinstating these organisms back to their original design.

Characteristics of microorganisms

IMO purify the soil water and provide various nutrients. IMO have the following characteristics.

-Ability to decompose.

When complex materials such as plants, animals, excrements, and organic fertilizers enter the soil, IMO break these down into simpler compounds or elements that can undergo ionic interactions. Even the diverse inorganic matters decomposed by IMO increase in their effectiveness and are converted to a form readily absorbable by plants.

-Catalysis of chemical processes in the soil

Microorganisms produce numerous enzymes, antibiotics, organic acids and various complexes. The majority of chemical reactions in the soil are reliant on enzymes which are the catalysts.

-Revitalization of the ecosystem.

When the soil is revitalized by the use of IMO, various bacteria and fungi appear first, followed by nematodes, earthworms, mole crickets, moles, etc. The use of IMO brings the ecosystem back to life in this manner.

-Suppression of diseases by circulating naturally active chemicals.

IMO have the ability to convert weak soil into healthy soil  by solubilizing trace minerals and enhancing the circulation of nutrients. IMO bring diversity back to the soil in which the balance among microbial populations has been broken due to the abuse of chemicals. IMO are strong survivors that cannot be languid even in extreme conditions. The recovered diversity of microbes can then reduce the occurrence of disease rapidly.

 

Collecting indigenous microorganisms (IMO#1)

It is important to collect IMO in a place that has characteristics most similar to the land that one is working on. On a mountain vegetation differ as the altitude changes. This is because the microorganisms and the environment that sustains them differs as the altitude changes.

One cannot plant grass from the top of the mountain in the valley below and expect it to grow. One cannot expect grass from the crevice of rocks to grow in field soil either. Each has its own habitat so it follows that one must collect microbes within the farming region. Because microbes are used that are well acquainted with the soil in a particular region, they are called indigenous microorganisms.

Time of collection

IMO can be collected at any time and from different sites (eg. slopes facing the north or south)

Period of collection

In the spring and fall: 7-10 days, in the summer 4-5 days.

Materials

A square or rectangular box made out of natural materials such as cedar or bamboo

Hard cooked rice. ratio: 6 cups of rice/ 4 cups of water (less moisture is better for collecting aerobic microbes)

Porous paper (crepe paper, paper towel, or even newspaper if nothing else is available)

Rubber band or string

Container box or chicken wire (to protect the collection box from animals)

Collection Site

It is preferable to pick a site around plants whose roots contain sugar, and that hasn’t been disturbed by people or animals in a long time.

Near roots of bamboo or broad leaf trees. Leaf molds from a hill near the work field or near the roots of lawn grass.

Near rice stumps: After harvesting rice plants the sap of the plant rises to the top of the stump. Fungi or bacteria such as Aspergillus oryzae or Bacillus Subtilis which ferment the soybean immediately gather on the stump. When the sap is visible on the stumps it is the best time to collect microbes. It is easy to miss the time of collection due to the short period of time in which the sap is produced. If the collection time is missed the sprouts can be broken off the stumps to cause the sap to flow again. Hay Bacillus (Bacillus Subtilis) collected from rice stumps can prevent damping off (Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia sp, Fusarium sp. etc…) and Fusarium wilt, if the hay bacillus is applied on rice seedlings as a form of liquid fertilizer. Hay Bacillus is also helpful is helpful in overcoming damage caused by successive cropping when it is used with IMO collected from different sites. Also hay bacillus breaks down proteins quickly and promotes soil joining effectively.

It is recommended to collect in a slightly barren area for collection rather than a nutrient rich area. It is also recommended to collect at an altitude 100 – 200 meters higher than the altitude of the field you will be working in.

It is also effective to use directional difference in collecting. South facing slopes are better for summer crops because they receive more sun and north facing slopes are better for winter crops because they receive less.

It is more effective to cultivate various microbes together because they are more adaptable to the environment.

Things to consider:

Do not collect IMO during the rainy season.

Avoid moist areas for collecting where anaerobic microorganisms (red and blue mold) occur commonly.

This does not mean that anaerobic microorganisms cannot be used, they are indigenous as well. However if they are in the majority in any collection it is best to throw it out and start again in an area with less moisture.

How to collect IMO

Prepare the wooden box:

Fill the box (preferably made of untreated wood and 10 cm in height) with undercooked rice up to 7 cm (⅔ of the box height). Cover the box with paper and secure with string or rubber band. Burru the box in in the selected location. Select an area that is undisturbed and where the soil is soft under the leaves. After burying the box up to its rim cover it with leaves and then cover it with the container box or chicken wire (it is best if space is left for airflow) to protect it from animals. Leaf molds contain moisture the deeper you dig and it is good to use a mixture of leaf mold and dry leaves to cover the box. If there is too much moisture the collection will most likely be anaerobic but if there is too little moisture hardly any IMO will be collected at all.

In dry weather it can be helpful to spray the leaves around the box with a mixture of oriental herb nutrient (OHN 1/1000), fermented plant juice made with mugwort and dropwort (FPJ 1/500), brown rice vinegar (BRV 1/500), and mineral A (1/1000) instead of water for better IMO collection.

The time it takes for the IMO to proliferate in the box varies with temperature. Collection takes 7-9 days in the spring, 4-5 days in the summer, and over 10 days during winter. It is recommended to collect IMO every year.

If the collection is successful, the empty space in the box (⅓ of its volume) will be fully covered with white microorganisms (aerobic). Red and blue mold may occur in several spots this means that anaerobic microbes have been collected also. It is acceptable if there are a few spots of red and blue but if they cover the majority of the box then it is best to start over.

 

Cultivation of IMO

How to make IMO#2

Materials :

Clay or glass jar

Porous paper

Rubber band or string

IMO#1

Brown sugar

Method:

Mix IMO#1 with brown sugar at a ratio of 1:1 by weight (try not to squish the IMO, mix gently so as not to break the mycelium) and then put in the jar. Fill the jar up to ⅔, this creates the most favorable environment for fermentation. Cover the jar with paper and secure with a rubber band or string. Keep the jar out of the sun in and ambient temperature of 23-25 C. If the temperature cannot be well maintained it may require a longer period of fermentation. During the fermentation the temperature inside the jar rises above 40 C and the consistency of the IMO becomes like gruel. This process takes over 7 days. In cooler temperatures it is beneficial to stir the jar in the morning. The product of this process is called foundation stock or IMO#2.

How to make IMO#3

Tools and materials:

A working area that is shaded from direct sunlight

Thermometer

Straw

Straw mats or cardboard boxes or rice/flour sacks

Dry leaves

IMO#2 x1/500

Rice bran

Untreated sawdust (optional but very helpful)

OHN Nutrient Liquid x1/100 (optional)

Humic and Fulvic acid x1/500 (can be store bought or collected from worm compost)

Mugwort or dropwort FJP (fermented plant jiuce) x1/500

Brown rice vinegar x1/500

Seawater x1/30 (if seawater is not available you can mix 4 grams of sea salt into 20 liters of water)

Method:

In a dry shaded area and well ventilated area, (preferably with a dirt floor) mix the rice bran and sawdust (at a ratio of 1:4 respectively) into a pile. Dilute the IMO#2, OHN, humic acid, FPJ, BRV, and Seawater at their respective dilution ratios into a 20 liter bucket of water. Mix the solution with the rice bran and sawdust until you reach  a moisture level of 65%-75% for optimum conditions. The moisture level can be determined by making a ball with the rice bran and twisting it, the ball should easily separate into two halves, or when the rice bran mixture is squeezed in your hand it will form a ball but if you throw it about a foot or less in the air and allow it to land on your open palm it will break apart.

Stack the mixture into a pile about 40 cm high (if you are making a large amount, form the pile into a row but don’t pile too high, this is to avoid excessively high temperatures in the center of the pile) and cover it with straw, dry leaves, and then the straw mats, bags of cardboard boxes to prevent evaporation of the liquid and to shade from the sun. 70% shade and 30% light is recommended. Use weights to keep the cover in place if necessary. As the process begins the temperature in the pile will rise very quickly because the mixture undergoes a process of fermentation. When the temperature reaches about 40-50C the pile needs to be turned and well mixed so as to prevent moist clusters. If the temperature of the pile goes too high (above 70c) then thermophilic bacteria will break down proteins which will cause nutrients to be released and lost in the form of gasses which will reduce the final product’s fertilizing effect. High temperature may also harm the microorganisms and inhibit proliferation.  If the temperature of the pile is too low it may be anaerobic because of too much moisture. If you do not have a thermometer a good rule of thumb is to turn the pile after the first 24 hours and then every 48 hours after that. This process takes seven days.

When IMO#3 is completely cultivated they will for white lumps which are colonies of IMO and will smell a lot like baked bread or yeast. When you see the lumps beginning to form in your your pile after the first couple days do not break them apart. The moisture level in the final product will have dropped to around 40%.

How to keep IMO#3

Find a large container and line the bottom with straw or dried leaves. Store in a cool location )1-15C) out of direct sunlight and make sure there is plenty of ventilation. During storage the IMO will become dry (20-30% humidity) this means that they are in a dormant state. At this point the IMO does not need to be turned.

 

How to make IMO#4

Tool and materials:

IMO#3

OHN x1/1000

FPJ x1/500

BRV (brown rice vinegar) x1/500

Seawater x1/30 (or sea salt x4 grams to 20 liters)

Soil from the field you intend to work in

Method:

Mix the IMO#3 wi the soil at a (bulk) ratio of 1:1. Mix the other materials at their respective dilution rates into a 20 liter bucket of water and use the water to adjust the moisture level of your IMO/soil mixture to 65-70%. The process from here on is the same as making IMO#3 except that it only takes 5 days. Monitor temperature and turn the pile after the first 24 hours and every 48 hours after that. The reason for this step in the process is that the IMO work best when they are inoculated with the soil where they will be used. The final product of this process is know as IMO#4 and is the IMO used in natural farming.

How to store IMO#4

The process for storage is the same as with IMO#3. Because the moisture content is evaporated during storage it is necessary to readjust the moisture content to 65-70% using the nutrient solution mentioned above before its application on a field.

How to use IMO#4

When using IMO#4 scatter them over a field, so that the soil is barely covered (min 150kg/hectare). The deeper the soil the so do not bury the IMO. Soil applied with IMO is get warm and have a soft surface and maintain a balanced microbial community. It is recommended that the IMO be applied to the field in small lumps. Doing this helps the soil build up the aggregate structure rapidly. Soil treatment may be done seven days before seeding or transplanting. In the case that the field had repeated cultivation disorder the treatment should be done 14 days before planting. Apply IMO 2-3 hours before sunset, and wet the soil immediately after.

Using with compost  

Mix IMO#4 with fermented mixed compost (or other decomposed nutrient source) at a ratio of 1/10 and allow to ferment for 7-14 days. It is more effective to add cow bone powder or crab shell or other calcium source to the mixture and allow to ferment for over 7 days. The result of this process is IMO#5

Using IMO as a liquid fertilizer

For a liquid fertilizer it is best to use IMO#4. When using liquid IMO fusarium wilt and damping off can be prevented. Abnormal weather condition such as tropical nights weaken plants and make them susceptible to disease. Using IMO along with other KNF inputs can help plants build a resistance to disease. Liquid IMO should also be applied to seedling in the nursery. To make liquid IMO put it in a hemp cloth or nylon stocking and allow to soak in water. The dilution ratio is 1/500-1/1000.

This information has been paraphrased from the booklet “Cho’s Natural Farming: Recipes and Instructions for Use”. A copy can be downloaded from Drake’s natural farming website which is an excellent source of information. Also for some top notch instructional videos you can also visit Chris Trump’s youtube channel.