IMOs
Natural Farming produces a good yield when the land cultivated has an excellent soil condition for
crops.
Microorganisms play an important role in making soil good for growing plants. These microorganisms
can also
be
collected and cultured.
Natural Farming promotes the use of Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs). The microorganisms that have
been
living
in the local area for a long time are best for farming because they are very powerful and effective.
They
have
survived and can survive the extreme climatic conditions of the local environment much better than
artificially
produced microorganisms, which are cultured in some foreign or artificial environment. And since
they are
already available in the field, they are considered the best inputs for conditioning the land.
Organisms that are found under the heat of the sun are largely different than those found in shaded
areas
such
as under the bamboo trees. Dr. Cho advocates that it is better to culture microorganisms from
different
areas in
order to collect different kinds of microorganisms
(Microbial Diversity).
It is also good to culture microorganisms at different weather conditions and to mix different types
of
microorganisms.
In "Non-Chemical" agriculture practices we do not feed the plant. We nurture the soil and the
soil
nurtures
the plant through the IMOs.
Microorganisms decompose complex organic compounds such as dead bodies of plants and animals
and
wastes
into nutrients, making them easily absorbable by plants.
They can create compounds such as antibiotic substances, enzymes and lactic acids that can
suppress
various diseases and promote healthy soil conditions.
IMOs are used primarily to create fertile and healthy soil condition that is ideal for farming and
to
prevent plant diseases. In Natural Farming, IMOs are used in treatments applied to the soil in order
to
improve its fertility and health.
The best material that can be used in culturing IMOs is .
The rice should not be too
soft or too
sticky since aerobic micro organisms do not prefer to live on it. Hence, it is best to use left-over
rice.
In making IMOs using plastic as containers should be avoided. Containers made of Wood or Bamboo is
recommended.
Indigenous Microorganisms can be
collected in many ways and in many places. They can be
collected from surrounding hills and mountains. It is also
possible, to a certain extent, to collect specific types of
microorganisms.
Wooden box (made of Natural wood / bamboo / cedar, etc)
Hard-cooked rice (Less moisture to collect aerobic microbes)
Porous Paper (paper Towel)
Rubber band / Thread
Container Box / Basket made out of Bamboo
Jaggery / Brown sugar (Unrefined sugar)
Glass jar / Clay pot
A wooden box of Length 12 inches x Width 8 inches Height
4 inches is made with ½ an inch thickness wood.
Fill the wooden box with steamed rice. Its moisture content will attract the indigenous
microorganisms living in the local soil.
Allow adequate air supply by not stuffing the rice higher than 3 inches (do not press hard the
rice
in the box). Without sufficient supply of air, the anaerobic IMOs will get collected. Aerobic
IMOs
are more commonly recommended.
Cover the wooden box with white plain paper (avoid news paper) and use a rubber band or
thread to
hold the paper to the box. Paper allows air to pass through.
Mark an area 12 inches x 8 inches in the soil and excavate 2 inches of soil. Place the
rice-filled wooden box in this pit, where IMOs abound, such as in a forest / field or at the
site
where many decomposed leaf molds are found. Cover the box with leaves.
The container box or basket is placed on this set-up to protect the wooden box from stray
animals.
Prevent rain from getting through by covering with leaves.
(use plastic sheet only if necessary during excess rains)
At 20°C, it will take about 5 to 6 days to grow the microbes in the box filled with IMOs.
Collection
will be faster if the temperature is higher than 30°C to 35°C it will take 2 to 3 days
After 3 days the rice will be covered with microorganisms.
Move the IMO formed rice to a clay pot / glass jar. The
IMOs thus collected is called as IMO-1.
Mix jaggery with the IMO-1 in 1:1 ratio. For Eg 1 Kg of jaggery should be mixed with 1 Kg of
IMO-1. This mixture of brown sugar and IMO-1 is called as IMO-2.
The closer the state of sugar is to nature, the better. The less process the sugar has
undergone,
the more effective it is. Therefore, white refined sugar is not recommended. Brown sugar is
advisable, but crude and unrefined sugar (jaggery) is better.
Cover the container using paper and hold in position using a rubber band or thread.
NOTE : It will take 3 days in summer and 5 days in winter. You can experiment based on the
climate
of the place where you live. Black molds on the steamed rice indicate that you have exceeded the
number of days
Wooden box (made of Natural wood / bamboo / cedar, etc)
Hard-cooked rice (Less moisture to collect aerobic microbes)
Knife / sharp cutting tool
Plastic Sheet
Porous Paper (paper towel)
Rubber band / Thread
Jaggery / Brown sugar
Glass jar / Clay pot
Choose a bamboo bush in the center of a bamboo grove.
Cut a healthy bamboo shoot at about 10 cm from the ground and trim the edges of the cut stump in
such a way that the inner edge slants towards the hollow end. This prevents the bamboo juice from
leaking out.
Fill the bamboo cavity with boiled rice (low moisture content). The level of rice should be
higher than the edge.
Cover this rice-filled stump with the wooden box.
Cover the box with dry leaves.
Cover with plastic sheet to protect from rain, and then place a weight on top to secure it in
position.
In 3 to 5 days, red, white, yellow, black and all sorts of microorganisms will be collected.
Juice
from bamboo will also be gathered.
Cut the stump. Transfer the rice in the jar or clay pot. This is also IMO-1.
Mix jaggery with the IMO-1 in 1:1 ratio. For eg 1 Kg of
jaggery should be mixed with 1 Kg of IMO-1. This
mixture of brown sugar and IMO-1 is called IMO-2.
process the sugar has undergone, the more effective it is.
Therefore, white refined sugar is not recommended. Brown
sugar is advisable, but crude and unrefined sugar (jaggery) is
better.
Cover the container using paper and rubber band.
NOTE: It takes 3 to 5 days depending on the
local climatic conditions. You can
experiment based on the climate of the
place where you live.
Wooden box (made of Natural wood / bamboo / cedar etc)
Hard-cooked rice (Less moisture to collect aerobic microbes)
Steel wire net
Plastic sheet
Jaggery /Brown Sugar
Paper Porous Paper ( paper towel)
Rubber band / Thread
Glass Jar / Clay pot
Fill the wooden box ¾ with steamed rice.
After the harvest of paddy (immediately after cutting the rice crops) cover the rice stumps with
rice-filled wooden boxes facing downward in such a way that the rice is in touch with the paddy
stumps.
Cover with steel wire net to prevent from mice and rats for causing damage.
Cover with plastic sheet to prevent rain from getting through. IMOs will be gathered approximately
in a
week. Mostly anaerobic microorganisms will be collected such as Bacillus licheniformis that actively
breaks
down protein, fat and carbohydrates and Bacillus subtilis that breaks up strong fibers such as
straw and reeds . After 4 days the rice is covered with fungal growth. This is called as
IMO-1.
Transfer the fungi-farmed rice in the clay pot or jar.
Mix Jaggery with the IMO-1 in 1:1 ratio. For eg, 1 Kg of Jaggery should be mixed with 1 Kg of
IMO-1.
This mixture of brown sugar and IMO-1 is called IMO-2.
The closer the state of sugar is to nature, the better. The less process the sugar has
undergone,
the
more effective it is. Therefore, white refined sugar is not recommended. Brown sugar is
advisable,
but
crude and unrefined sugar (jaggery) is better.
Cover the clay pot with paper and fasten it by using rubber band.
Water
Rice bran/flour
Paddy straw
IMO-2 (The mixture of brown sugar an IMO-1 is called IMO-2)
All the NF inputs diluted in water in the ratio of 1:1000
Dilute IMO-2 with water (1:1000) and mix with rice bran or flour. The moisture level of this
mixture
should be
65% - 70%. (The consistency should be such that it should lump when pressed and loosen when
shaken)
For better results, use diluted NF inputs such as FPJ, FAA, OHN, etc, while adding water.
After mixing, stack (pile/heap) the rice bran mixture
IMO-2 on soil floor and not on concrete floor
The height of the rice bran mixture bed should be not more than 30 to 40cm in height.
Cover this small heap with Paddy straw to ensure that the temperature would not rise over 50°C.
To do
so, flip the straw once in 2 days.
It usually takes 5 to 7 days for the surface to be covered with whitish spores of IMOs, but the
speed
of cultivation depends on the outside temperature. When the temperature stops increasing, the
fermentation is completed. This is called as IMO-3.
The moisture level can be measured by forming a rice bran
boll and twisting it. If the moisture level is around 65 -70 % the
boll can be easily divided into two halves. However, it is better
to use the moisture meter (hygrometer) to get accurate data.
After evenly mixing with diluted IMO-2 make a heap 13-15
inches (30 to 40 cm) hight, and cover it with straw, straw mat
or leaf litter to prevent moisture evaporation and to provide
shade from direct sunlight. 70% shade and 30% light is
recommended, since it creates favorable conditions for useful
microbes in paddy straw, Eg. Aspergillus’s oryzae, Bacillus
subtilis, etc. Be sure to press several spots with weights or soils
over the straw, because straw is too light to be fixed on the top
of the rice bran mixture. It is best to use straw mats or straw
bags (gunny bags) for covering.
This process is very important for massive cultivation of
IMOs. This must be done on soil floor and not on a concrete
floor and in a place with good ventilation. As time passes, the
temperature rises within the pile of the rice bran mixture,
because it undergoes fermentation. When the temperature
reaches 40-50 °C turnover the rice bran mixture evenly so that
the temperature does not rise further and also in order to
prevent moist clusters. If the temperature is below 40 °C, the
mixture may be in an anaerobic condition due to the excessive
moisture. If the temperature rises up above 70 °C, proteins
may be broken down by thermophilic microbes and nutrients
released into the air resulting in loss of fertilizer effect.
Therefore, it is necessary to turn over the rice bran mixture in
order to control temperature. It takes about 7 days for this
process.
When IMO-3 is completely cultured, they become a lump of
white colonies of IMOs and are visible over the top when the
20
straws are uncovered. In the beginning of the fermentation, the
IMOs emit a pleasant smell (similar to those of Absida,
Aspergillus, Mucor or Rhizopus) during their fermentation,
and give out a fragrance when the fermentation process is
completed. The moisture level drops to around 40% from 65-
70% of the initial stage. It is called pure stock or IMO-3.
Keep the IMO3 bags in shaded and cool place. Make sure that
the air is well circulated by keeping IMO-3 in a ventilated
container such as jute / gunny / cloth bags.
First, spread rice straw or leaf litter at the bottom of the
container, and put in IMO-3. During storage, the IMO-3 may
become dry (moisture level 20-30%) as the moisture gets
evaporated. It means that the IMOs have entered a sleeping
phase (state of dormancy). Pile up containers into 3 layers and
shield them from direct sunlight and rain. At this point, there
is no need to turn over, because of the convection currents that
are created through the gaps of containers.
IMO-3 - 10 Kg
Field / crop soil - 5 Kg
Red fine Soil - 5 Kg
(Anthill / Termite Mound)
Combine 1 part of IMO-3 with 1 part of soil. 50% of the soil used for the mixture should be from
the field for crops and the other half is from fresh new soil (mountain soil, red fine soil, etc.)
This will harmonize wild IMOs with field IMOs.
Mixing should be done on the soil floor and not on concrete.
Create a heap of this mixture not more than 20 cm in height.
Keep the mixture covered for two days.
When needed, control moisture with Natural Farming inputs such as FPJ, FFJ, FAA, Lab etc (All
natural farming inputs at a ratio of 1:1000 dilution with water)
Mix IMO-3 with field soil 30%, ant hill / termite mound 20% and field soil 50%. Use all the NF
inputs in water and add in order to adjust the moisture content to 65- 75%. It is necessary to add
sea water for the IMOs to work best, when they are inoculated to the soil. The end product is called
IMO- 4 in Natural Farming.
Moisture may be evaporated during storage. So adjust the moisture content to 65-70% by adding
nutrient liquids of natural farming inputs just before using IMO-4.
In order to be effective, IMOs should be used in a proper manner.
Use IMOs continuously. Since IMOs are used to make soil fertile and healthy, these should be
collected and prepared every year. In order to bring about continued results. IMOs must be
maintained in the soil.
Maintain IMO diversity. Avoid being choosy in collecting microorganisms. Instead, microorganisms
from different environments should be collected and mixed. It is recommended to collect IMOs from
all four directions of the field. We can also collect microbes from mountain, summit, valley and
trench.
Use the tough guy. The types of microorganisms present in an area will vary from another, since each
area has distinct environmental conditions. For example, the sunny side of the field will have
different IMOs from the shaded side. Altitude will also affect the variety of microorganisms at
every level. To include "tough guys" into the IMO mixture, samples from the high mountains or
uncontaminated regions can also be collected.
