• KSBB Journal
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.365-373
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• 2011

Effective Microorganisms (EM), a fermented medium developed by Professor Higa at the University of the Ryukyus, is a mixed culture containing dozens of microorganisms which are beneficial to nature including people, animals, plants and many microbial species in environment. EM is known to contain more than 80 kinds of anaerobic or aerobic microbes including photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, actinomycetes, fungi and so on, with yeast, lactic acid bacteria and photosynthetic bacteria as the main species of EM. Antioxidant effect generated by the concert of complex coexistence and coprosperity among these microbes is considered to be the main source of EM benefits. Currently, EM is earning an increasing attention with applications in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, environment and medicine among others. At the same time, however, a quantitative interpretation of EM system based on a mixed culture model needs efforts from biochemical engineers for efficient production and further promotion of EM. In this paper, we describe the functions of major microbes in EM and current researches and applications of EM in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, environment and medicine.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.795-799
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• 2008

We have studied bioremediation of effective microorganisms on crude oil spill in Taean, west-coast of Korea. Oil contaminated soil samples were collected on December 14, 2007, seven days after the Hebei Spirit oil-spilled accident. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was measured to evaluate the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EM) which were composed with yeast, photosynthetic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria on oil degradation. TPH concentration before EM treatment was 323.8 mg/kg, whereas TPH concentrations on 2 days after EM treatment and that of control (without EM) was 102.1 mg/kg and 170.6 mg/kg, respectively. On six days after EM treatment TPH was 91.3 mg/kg and that of control was 127.7 mg/kg. Percentages of degraded crude oil were 47.3% without EM and 68.5% with EM, 60.6% without EM and 71.8% with EM on 2 and 6 days after EM treatment, respectively. These results clearly showed that the application of effective microorganisms toward oil-contaminated soil was quite useful to degrade crude oil spill. These results were derived from the effects of biostimulation of microbial media nutrients and bioaugmentation of effective microorganisms. If we carefully apply these effective microorganisms, it can be a useful bioremediation method to recover oil-contaminated marine ecosystems.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.565-574
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• 2011

The development of satisfactory alternatives for supplying the nutrients needed by crops could decrease the problems associated with conventional NPK chemical fertilizers. In this study, the effects of bacterial and fungal effective microorganisms (EM) on the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) were evaluated. This investigation was carried out parrallel with conventional NPK chemical fertilizer and a commercial sold microbial fertilizer to compare between each of their effect. Sterile water and molasses were served as controls. Azotobacter chroococcum effect also was studied either alone or in combination with the effective microorganisms on the growth parameters. In contrast to the bacterial EM, the fungal EM alone without A. chroococcum had a more stimulating effect than fungal EM combined with A. chroococcum. Results showed that seedling inoculation significantly enhanced B. rapa growth. Shoot dry and fresh weight, and leaf length and width significantly were increased by both bacterial and fungal inoculation. The results indicated that the NPK chemical fertilizer deteriorates the microflora inhabiting the soil, while the effective microorganisms either fungal or bacterial ones increased the microbial density significantly. This study implies that both of fungal and bacterial EM are effective for the improvement of the Chinese cabbage growth and enhance the microorganisms in soil. The results showed antagonism occurred between A. chroococcum and each of Penicillium sp and Trichoderma sp in both agar and plant assays. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Dunnett test.

• 한국초등과학교육학회지:초등과학교육
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.524-535
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to develop the creative hands-on activities using EM (effective microorganisms) that can enhance the environmental literacy of learners, and to examine the effect of its application. The program was composed of 10 sessions, including biological knowledge and ecosystem status of microorganisms, practical activities that stimulate the environmental behavior and emotion of elementary school students, and career design related to their aptitude and occupation in future. This program can also be connected to the domains of creative hands-on activities, that is, career activities, club activities, self-regulated activities and voluntary service activities. In this study, two classes of 3th grades of elementary school in Seoul were selected and divided into two groups. The experimental group to undergo the program of creative hands-on activities using EM showed higher environmental literacy than the control group. In the concrete, it is proven that this program contributed to the improvement of learners' environmental emotion, skill, and behavior. When interviewed with experimental group, we found that sustained EM hands-on activities were conducted in collaboration with their families, and they became more aware of the utilities of EM and could participate in the activities more interestingly. In conclusion, the creative hands-on activities program was very effective and helped elementary students to change their environmental literacy in positive ways.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2015

This study was aimed to determine the effect of basal application of Effective Microorganisms (EM) on the grow and yield of cucumber. For treatments, the EM was applied to soil with fertilizer composed with $N-P_2O_5-K_2O$-manure (24.0-16.4-23.8-2,000kg) in the 1.0 strength (defined as EM+1S), 2/3 strength (defined as EM+2/3S), 1/2 strength (defined as EM+1/2S), without fertilizer (defined as EM), or only fertilizer in the 1.0 strength (defined as 1S). In result, there was no significant differences of organic substance content and pH with the EM treatment. While the EC (Electric conductivity) concentration was decreased, plant-available P (phosphorus) was markedly increased. Chlorophyll content was highest in the treatment of EM+standard application rate for both semi-forcing and retarding culture. In contrast, no significant difference was found in plant height and internode length under the fertilizer treatment. Weekly harvested number of cucumber was highest at the treatment of EM+standard application for the semi-forcing culture, while it was 3.6 at the EM+1/2 application for the retarding culture. Weekly yield was greatest at the EM+standard application treatment and decreased with the decrease of fertilizer application rate. In addition, weekly yield was significantly reduced in the treatment of EM. There was no significant difference in yields by production time with the fertilizer applications?. Yield was increased with temperature for the semi-forcing culture, while consistent pattern was maintained for the retarding culture.

• 한국항해항만학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.161-166
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• 2009

Lactobacillus sp., Acetobacter sp. and yeast were the most dominant organisms in the EM stock culture and subculture product. Lactic acid bacteria and yeast were able to grow in the fermentation process utilizing seawater. EM treatment of higher concentrations using EM stock culture and EM clay balls (1% or 4%) contributed to an early removal of malodor and an increase of DO in the polluted sediments, indicating an odor-removing activity of EM. The EM treatment of higher concentrations (1% or 4%) somewhat appeared to modify the microbial communities within the sediments, which was confirmed by existence of a few unique fragments from the stock culture based on PCR-DGGE. It still remains to be elucidated that EM cultures were directly involved in the malodor removal and potential sediment bioremediation.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.433-443
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• 2006

친환경 농자재인 키토산, 목초액 및 EM을 농도별로 처리하여 토양 미생물상 변화와 토마토의 초기생육특성에 미치는 효과에 대해 연구한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 토마토의 초기생육은 전반적으로 대조구에 비해 키토산, 목초액 및 EM 처리구가 비교적 생육이 양호하였으며, 처리간에는 키토산 500배액 처리구에서 초장, 엽면적, 과중등이 양호하게 나타났다. 2. 엽록소함량의 경시적 변화는 생육초기에는 처리간 뚜렷한 차이가 나타나지 않았으나 생육기간이 길수록 엽록소함량이 증가하였는데 자재간에는 키토산이 EM 및 목초액에 비해 엽록소함량이 증가하였다. 3. 토양 미생물상의 변화는 대조구에 비해 키토산, 목초액 및 EM 처리구에서 세균, 트리 코데마 및 방선균수은 다소 증가하였고, 사상균수는 약간 감소하였으나 처리간 일정한 경향은 없었다.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.683-693
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• 2014

폐자원인 우렁쉥이 껍질을 이용한 환경친화형 유기농 액비의 개발을 위하여 유용미생물(EM)을 이용한 우렁쉥이 껍질의 최적 발효조건과 액비의 특성을 조사한 결과 다음과 같다. EM발효 우렁쉥이 껍질 액비 제조 시 당밀의 투입량이 증가할수록 pH는 낮아지며, EC는 높아지는 것으로 나타났으며, pH는 당밀이 10% 이상 투입된 시험구에서 일정하게 유지되었다. EM발효 우렁쉥이 액비의 총 질소 함량은 발효가 경과할수록 현저히 증가하였으며, 특히 당밀이 15% 이상 투입된 시험구에서 약 220% 증가율을 나타내었다. 인의 함량은 발효 21일차에서 최고치를 나타내었으며, 칼륨의 함량은 발효가 경과할수록 증가하였다. 칼슘, 마그네슘, 나트륨의 함량 역시 발효가 경과할수록 증가하였고 당밀이 15% 이상 투입된 시험구에서 증가율이 우수한 것으로 나타났으며, 칼슘의 함량이 상대적으로 높은 것으로 나타났다. 유해성분(As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, pb 및 Zn)의 함량은 시험구 모두에서 비료공정규격 기준치에 적합하였다. 우렁쉥이 껍질 액비의 유리아미노산은 총 29종이 검출되었으며 총량은 7,080.94 mg/L를 나타내었고 알라닌이 656.32 mg/L로 가장 높은 함량을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과를 미루어 볼 때 우렁쉥이 껍질을 이용한 액비화에는 당밀이 15% 이상 투입된 조건이 최적인 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.427-436
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial product on microorganisms in soil and the growth of leaf lettuce. The test material were treated with chitosan, wood vinegar and EM activity liquid, and treatment concentration was 50 times solution and 100 times solution level with foliar application. The results were summarized as follows : Among foliar application of microorganisms treatments diluted by chitosan 100 times solution level was effective considering growth of leaf lettuce as compared other dilutions and control plot. Change of microorganism number in the soil for cultivation of chinese cabbages and leaf lettuce was increased with microorganism treatment plot as compared with control plot. Specially chitosan 100 times solution level showes the most significant effect.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.734-737
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• 2005

본 연구는 EM을 음수 및 사료내에 첨가하여 사양한 돼지의 육질개선 효과를 알아보기 위해 일반 돈육과 EM Pork의 이화학적 특성을 검토하고자 돼지 50두를 공시하여 일반성분, 육질 개선 및 육질 보존성에 관한 실험을 실시하였다. 콜레스테롤 함량 측정 결과, 일반 돈육은 평균적으로 $83{\pm}4mg/100\;g$ 이었는데 EM Pork는 $71{\pm}3\;mg/100\;g$을 나타내 유의적으로 낮은 함량을 보였다(p<0.05). 또한 TBA가는 저장기간 14일에 일반 돈육이 $0.184{\pm}0.003$ MDA mg/kg을 나타냈는데 EM Pork는 $0.165{\pm}0.004$ MDA mg/kg으로 처리구간 유의적인 차이를 나타내었다(p<0.05). VBN치는 일반 돈육을 5일간 냉동 저장한 것이 $3.72{\pm}0.05\;mg\%$이었고 EM Pork는 $3.2{\pm}0.05\;mg\%$를 나타냈으나 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다(p>0.05). 그러나 일반 돈육을 5일간 냉장 저장한 것은 $4.9{\pm}0.1\;mg\%$를 나타냈으나 EM Pork는 $3.19{\pm}0.04mg\%$를 나타내 일반 돈육보다 $35\%$ 정도 VBN치가 낮았으며 유의적인 차이를 나타냈다(p<0.05).