EM•1^® Soil Microbes Improve Soil Quality

EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant accelerates the soil building process and promotes beneficial soil microbe communities. The soil building process revolves around soil aggregate formation. Soil aggregates form as mineral and decomposed organic matter particles are bound together by soil organism secretions that act as glues. Stable and well-formed soil aggregate is the key to overall soil function. EM•1^® produces high levels of polysaccharides and other beneficial organic acids and enzymes in the soil that help build stable aggregate and soil structure. Increased aggregate stability prevents the pore spaces between the aggregates from collapsing during heavy, saturating rains and reduces compaction caused by machinery. Furthermore, improved soil aggregate stability reduces soil erosion and run-off. Soils are better able to absorb and retain moisture, as well as cycle nutrients. It is important to build up the organic matter content in your soil. EM•1^® lives on the organic matter and clay particles in your soil. To improve soil conditions and accelerate the conversion of plant residue to stable humus, spray all plant residue with EM•1^®. .

Soils rich in organic matter such as beneficial soil microbes and that have been treated with organic fertilizers will require significantly less EM•1^® than soils with low organic matter and those that have been treated with conventional synthetic fertilizers. Compacted soils and those that have had high incidences of diseases in the past are also candidates for higher application levels.

EM•1^® soil microbes have been used in agricultural applications since 1982. Farmers have documented the benefits on 6 continents, demonstrating that EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant can improve all soil types, in all farming systems and climate zones on Earth. Today, EM•1^® is used in over 120 countries in all sorts of farming systems from row crops to orchards to composting to solid and liquid waste management. Whether conventional, organic, or sustainable, any farm can benefit from using EM•1^® to improve the efficiency of their operation. EM•1^® is approved for use without restrictions on Certified Organic operations (OMRI Listed).

Many nutrients are held in the top layers of soil due to the cation exchange capacity (CEC). The CEC increases as aggregate formation matures because the aggregate are providing the surface area for the nutrients to adsorb (or "stick to" – not absorb). EM•1^® efficiently breaks down organic matter into stable humus, a key component to aggregate formation, by reducing oxidative forces that primarily rob the soil of Carbon and Nitrogen in the form of methane and ammonium gases, respectively. This is achieved from a reduction of available Hydrogen ions due to a favorable change of organic acid composition and concentration in the soil. The result is that a greater amount of organic matter is converted to humus, aiding in aggregate formation.