LACTIC ACID BACTERIA (LAB)

Lactic acid bacteria are anaerobic microorganisms. In the absence of oxygen, they break sugar into lactic acid. LAB is very effective in improving ventilation of air in the soil, promoting rapid growth of fruit trees and leaf vegetables.

Materials / ingredients needed:

1. Rice-washed water
2. Milk (unprocessed and not boiled)
3. Jagerry / Brown sugar
4. Clay jar / glass jar
5. Porous paper (paper towel)
6. Rubber band / thread

HOW TO MAKE LAB FROM MILK:

1. Put rice-washed water 15 to 20 cm deep in a jar. Cover the mouth of the jar with handmade paper and leave in shade.

2. Lactic acid bacteria will propagate at 23 to 25 C, and the solution will start to smell sour.

3. Add this rice water to milk. The ideal ratio between milk and rice water is 3:1 ratio. Milk in the market pasteurized in low temperature is okay. But sometimes, milk brought from the stores will not be effective. The best milk to be used is the milk from cows. Since milk has more nutrients than the rice-washed water, lactic acid bacteria will grow vigorously.

4) In 3 to 4 days, the jar will have three divided layers a) floating matter b) clear liquid and c) debris (waste). Starch, protein and fat will float on the surface. Yellow liquid will be deposited at the middle, this is called as Lactic acid bacteria .The waste will be deposited in the bottom of the container. Remove the floating substance, strain and save the yellow liquid and store in a separate bottle and keep in cool and shaded place or in a refrigerator.

HOW TO USE LAB

1. The basic dilution ratio is 1:1000.

2. LAB reinforces the ability of anabolism of microbes living on the plant stem and leaf, a condition that arose from the abuse of insecticides and fungicides.

3. When using LAB alone, it is more effective to use it with Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ).

4. Fields will recover fertility and the soil will become soft and fluffy if IMO mixed with LAB is sprayed on the field.

5. Use LAB (1:500) with FPJ (1:300) as drinking water for livestock, to recover their digestive function.

6. LAB is extremely effective in making fruits and leaves large, but the amount of LAB used should be reduced while approaching the later stages.

7. If the LAB is used together with mixed compost or IMO, the fermentation process occurs fast, leading to very effective results. The LAB function is to prevent the fermented mixed compost from decaying.

USES OF LAB

1. The Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) is very effective for improving soil ventilation and for growing fruits and leafy vegetables.
Note: Using rice-washed water in obtaining lactic acid bacteria is to collect stronger ones. Only strong ones can survive in poor nutrients condition like rice washed water.

2. The initial growth of the plant, when LAB is used during the vegetative growth period of fruiting vegetables, higher quality plants will result, and may be kept for longer periods, in storage.

3. LAB increases the solubility of the fertilizer.

4. LAB can reduce damage from gas through neutralizing ammonia gas produced where the immature compost is applied.

5. LAB is conditionally anaerobic, so they can also survive with oxygen.

6. LAB is resistant to high temperatures.

7. LAB is strong sterilizer.

8. LAB is used to culture IMO-3.

9. LAB solubilizes phosphate in 100-200 ppm (parts per million) (100-200ml of LAB in 1000ml of water). Using LAB in phosphate-accumulated soil will increase its capacity to absorb the insoluble form of phosphates and help overcome the saline disorder as a result of decomposition of the phosphates.

10. LAB has power to resistance to some fungi.

HOW TO STORE LAB

1. Keep the refined LAB serum at cool temperature, so for longer period where there is temperature change (1-15ºC ).

2. No storage under direct sunlight.

3. In order to keep LAB at a normal temperature it must be mixed with the same amount of brown sugar and stirred with a wooden stick (ladle).