*3.5.8 EM-fermented kitchen garbage*

For EM-fermented kitchen garbage, organic waste that is generated in the kitchen is fermented using multiplied EM to produce a nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants. The production procedure for this is like that of EM-F.P.E. production [35, 36].

*Effective Microorganisms (EM): A Potential Pathway for Enhancing Soil Quality… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.114089*

#### *3.5.9 EM-X*

This distinct version of EM liquid has been certified for human intake. This beverage EM (C [EM-X]) is an antioxidant cocktail that is derived from papaya, seaweed, and unpolished rice fermentation with grouped yeast, photosynthetic bacteria, and LAB EM. This is composed of EM and mixed plant extracts. EM-X is constituted of at least 40 minerals and antioxidants (including lycopene, ubiquinone, quercetin, kaempferol, pannexin, ascorbic acid, oryzanol, flavonoids and tocopherol) as well as some bioactive substances including amino acids (such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, I-alanine, l-glutamine, and nicotinamide mononucleotide), peptides, and nucleotides [37]. The consumption of EM-X daily overtime leads to a reduction in free radicals in the body and can potentially lead to the reduction of cancers and boosting of the immune system [35, 36].

#### **3.6 Application of EM**

According to Olle and Williams [38], EM are effective for crop production and are environmentally safe. According to previous authors, EM are produced in over 40 countries of the world using local microbial isolates, environmentally friendly, and effective for crop production. Their applications are numerous and diverse, ranging from aquaculture, animal, and crop production as well as environmental management. Various brands of EM are thus applied under different conditions in many ways as discussed in the following sections.

#### *3.6.1 Inoculation of EM into the soil*

EM can either be sprayed on plants or be applied as a soil drench during crop production. A dilution ratio of 1:500 multiplied by - EM in water or EM-FKG (kitchen garbage) when applied on the soil is used. For EM-F.C.M or EM-F.F, a dilution ratio of 1:300 is recommended. An equivalent of 2.5 tons of bokash or less is applied to soil per hectare. Applications above 2.5 t ha−1 can be detrimental/toxic to the plants because of organic acids, which can potentially damage plant roots. EM-bokash is usually applied 10–14 days before planting and is placed between 10 and 15 cm away from roots [3, 35, 36]. EM in combination with other substances such as molasses has been shown to improve in onion, peas, and sweetcorn [39]. The study of zu Schweinsberg-Mickan and Müller [40] showed that the addition of EM to the soil significantly increased soil microbial activity. A global metadata analysis has previously shown that soil inoculation with EM results in about a 16% yield increase in all crops, but legumes show a superior response [41]. For example, EM inoculation in the soil significantly increased yield, seed quality traits, and leaf photosynthesis in the common bean [42]. In general, a host of studies have shown a significant increase in crop yield after the inoculation of the soil with EM [43–45].

#### *3.6.2 Spraying EM on leaves*

The spraying of effective microorganisms on plant leaves serves as a prophylactic spray mainly for insect and disease control. This is done earlier in the season and terminated when the crop has been harvested. A dilution ratio of 1:1000 of multiplied-EM, EM-F.P.E. or EM-5, or a mixture of different EM derivatives, is recommended, although a stronger dilution can also be used [3, 35, 36].
