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).

INDIGENOUS MICRO ORGANISMS

Materials / ingredients needed:

1. Wooden box (made of Natural wood / bamboo / cedar, etc)
2. Hard-cooked rice (Less moisture to collect aerobic microbes)
3. Porous Paper (paper Towel)
4. Rubber band / Thread
5. Container Box / Basket made out of Bamboo
6. Jaggery / Brown sugar (Unrefined sugar)
7. Glass jar / Clay pot

How to collect IMOs:

1. A wooden box of Length 12 inches x Width 8 inches Height 4 inches is made with ½ an inch thickness wood.

2. Fill the wooden box with steamed rice. Its moisture content will attract the indigenous micro organisms living in the local soil. Allow adequate air supply by not stuffing the rice higher than 3 inches
(do not hard the rice in the box). Without sufficient supply of air, the anaerobic IMOs will get collected. Aerobic IMOs are more commonly recommended.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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

5. The container box or basket is placed on this set-up to protect the wooden box from stray animals.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Cover the container using paper and hold in position using a rubber band or thread.

Prosopis Cineraria (Jammi Chettu in Telugu)

Prosopis cineraria (Jammi Chettu in Telugu) is a flowering tree belonging to the family Fabaceae. In Bharat is has been declared as the state tree of Telangana and Rajasthan. It also is the National tree of United Arab Emirates. A large and well known example of the species is the Tree of Life in Bahrain – approximately 400 years old and growing in a desert devoid of any obvious sources of water. The tree is found in extremely arid conditions, with rainfall as low as 150mm annually; but is indicative of the presence of a deep water table. Prosopis cineraria  has demonstrated a tolerance of highly alkaline and saline environments.  The tree is well-suited for an agro-forestry setting, because it has a single-layered canopy, it is a nitrogen fixer (thus enriching the soil), and its deep roots avoid competition for water with crops. 

According to mythology, the Pandavas had safely kept their arms on the tree while in exile (agnathavasam)and on completion of the term, they had offered prayers to the tree, taken off their arms and defeated the
Kauravas in the Mahabharata war.

The worship of Shami is called as "Shami Pujan". It is done with recitation of the following prayer-

Shami shamiyate paapam
Shami shatruvinashanam,
Arjunasya dhanurdhari
Ramasya priyadarshanam!!!

Meaning : The Shami Tree cleans sins and gives victory over enemies . It is lord Rama's favorite tree and in such a tree, pandavas hid their weapons. O Shami, Lord Rama has worshiped you. I now embark upon my journey to victory. May You make it pleasant and free from obstacles.

The leaves of this plant are high in Iron, Zinc and Magnesium. These leaves can be used as green fodder for cattle, goats and sheep. The paste made from the bark of this tree is useful in removing unwanted hair permanently. The concoction made from leaves and bark of this tree s helpful in mouth ulcers, tooth ache and bad breath. This plant being a nitrogen fixer can be planted around the field which helps in keeping the soil fertile and in turn better yield to the farmer.