Making Compost with EM4 Farming Activator

Characteristics of Compost
1. Improve the structure of loamy soil so that it becomes lighter,
2. Increase the binding capacity of sandy soil so that the soil does not crumble,
3. Increase the water holding capacity of the soil,
4. Improve drainage and air conditioning in the soil,
5. Increase the binding capacity soil to nutrients
6. Contains complete nutrients, although in small amounts (the amount of these nutrients depends on the ingredients of organic fertilizers),
7. Helps the weathering process of mineral materials,
8. Provides food availability for microbes,
9. Reduces the activity of harmful microorganisms

Compost produced by fermentation with the addition of EM4 is called bokashi. The word bokashi is taken from the Japanese language which means fermented organic material. By Indonesians, the word bokashi has been extended to “organic material rich in sources of life”.

Place of Manufacture
Making bokashi does not require a special place. In a barn or hut can also be done. It should be noted that the process is not exposed to the sun or rain directly. Therefore, the place of manufacture is roofed. If composting is done on the ground, it should be given a base, such as plastic, tarpaulin or leaves.

Tools and materials
Composting with a capacity of 1 ton requires a box measuring 3m x 1m x 1.5m. The main ingredients (organic materials) needed to make bokashi are of several kinds, such as straw, manure, animal manure, grass, green manure, husks or sawdust. Another ingredient that is absolutely needed is bran. This bran needs about 10% of the total bokashi that will be produced. However, if the organic material is in the form of animal manure (not manure) then the need is more, around 15-20%. As a source of energy or food for bacteria, in the early stages before the fermentation process molasses is needed (cane drops). This molasses can be replaced with white sugar or brown sugar. Of the three ingredients, molasses is better than brown sugar and brown sugar is better than white sugar. This is understandable because molasses contains better amino acids than brown sugar and amino acids in brown sugar are better than in white dula. In addition to the doses above, in the manufacture of bokashi can be used a common dose. If you want to produce 1 ton of bokash, you can use the following dosages: 80% organic matter, 10% manure, 10% bran, 1 liter EM4, 1 liter molasses (½ kg sugar or kg brown sugar), and enough water ( 30% water content).

Ways of making

making of various kinds of bokashi is basically no different. Therefore, the manufacturing technique is reviewed only once. The stages of making bokashi are as follows.
a. Prepare a solution of EM4 + sugar + water mixed evenly.
b. Prepare the bokashi ingredients:

• Bokashi straw: straw that has been cut into pieces + bran + husk mixed evenly.
• Bokashi manure: manure + husk + bran mixed evenly.
• Bokashi manure-charcoal: manure + bran + husk charcoal / sawdust charcoal mixed evenly.
• Bokashi manure-soil: soil + manure + husk charcoal / sawdust charcoal + bran mixed evenly.
• Bokashi express: dry straw (other ingredients) + ready-made bokashi + bran mixed evenly.

c. The prepared bokashi material is doused with EM4 solution. Mixing is carried out slowly and evenly until the water content is -+ 30-40%. The desired water content is tested by gripping the material, indicated by not dripping water when the material is gripped and will bloom when the grip is released.
d. The mixed material is placed in a dry place or can also be put in a bucket or sack. When placed on the floor, the material should be stacked regularly. Piles of material are generally 15-20 cm high, but can be up to 1.5 m. after that the pile of material is covered with a burlap sack or tarpaulin.
e. The stack temperature is maintained between 40-50o C. To control it, every 5 hours (at least once a day) the temperature is measured. If the temperature is high, the material is inverted, allowed to stand for a while so that the temperature drops, then closed again. And so on.
f. The process takes 4-7 days, except for the express bokashi, the fermentation lasts 24 hours (1 day). If the ingredients contain oil (such as eucalyptus oil, patchouli, cloves, coconut pulp, or tofu pulp), the fermentation process takes longer, about 14-29 days because it takes time to neutralize the oil.
g. After the material becomes bokashi, the burlap sack can be opened. This bokashi is characterized by its black color, friable, not hot, and odorless. In such conditions, bokashi can be used as fertilizer.

The use of
Bokashi can be used like manure or compost. The usual dose is 3-4 handfuls of bokashi for one square meter of land. The use of the various types of bokashi is generally the same. However, it would be nice if its use is adjusted to the nutrients in the bokashi.
1. Straw bokashi and manure bokashi are both used to continue fermenting ground cover (mulch) from organic materials and used in paddy fields because of the availability of sufficient materials.
2. Bokashi manure and manure-soil bokashi are both good for seedling media and small planting media.
3. Bokashi express is good for ground cover (mulch) on vegetable and fruit crops.

The advantages of
Bokashi obtained with the help of EM4 can be used in a relatively short time, namely after the process of 7-14 days. In addition, the composted bokashi is not hot, does not smell bad, does not contain pests and diseases, and does not harm plant growth or production.