Case Studies
EM agriculture helped an apple orchard recover quickly from flood damage.
Nagano, Japan
Overview
Iwaien apple orchards grow delicious apples in Obuse town, Nagano, Japan. They’ve been using EM for more than 10 years. 100% pressed apple juice, made from their fresh and tasty apples, is also very popular.
Management area: Total of 3ha, 1.5ha used for apples
Pesticides use: Striving to reduce pesticides. Used according to the growth result.
EM agriculture
Ever since they started EM farming, they used 100 L of Activated EM･1, 100kg of EM Bokashi and 5kg of EM ceramic powder per 10 acres every year. However, in order to adjust themselves to major changes in the cultivation environment, such as the climate related to growing apples, they recently implemented the new graviton agriculture without using fertilizer, Bokashi or compost. They apply only salt, charcoal and Activated EM･1.In 2018, they tried this new method out in 0.5ha, then, expanded the applied area to 1ha in 2019. They were seeing the best result ever, however, the orchard was submerged due to the devastating typhoon No.19. After the collapse of the Chikuma River flood banks, they worked on the entire area (1.5ha) of the apple orchard.
EM materials used for 300 apple trees in the 1.5ha area
-Sprayed 15 tons of Activated EM･1 on the soil.
-Sprayed the mixture of 2 tons of salt, 1 ton of EM gravitron charcoal, and 300 liters of Activated EM･1 on the soil.
-Spread 7 to 8kg of EM gravitron charcoal around the base of each tree (total 2 tons)
-Installed 2,000 EM Bracon (EM rectifying blocks made with cement, charcoal, EM ceramic powder, sand and salt) around the base of four trees and four tree canopies.
-Expanded the barrier with plastic bottles installed every 20m. The rope should be stretched higher than the trees. (*Currently, a method without using ropes is also being developed)
The Flood
On October 13, 2019, Typhoon No. 19 brought heavy rain and the flood banks of the Chikuma River, where the water level rose, collapsed. Iwaien is in the lowlands next to the Chikuma River, and was submerged over a wide range of area. Fruit trees in the entire farmland area and the first floor of the shipping area were completely under water. That year’s harvest and shipment had just begun in early October.
They began the recovery activities by cleaning up their office first. During that time, the orchard was left being in water. It was at the end of November that water was completely cleared up. After water was gone, the sludge started to smell. So, Activated EM･1 was sprayed to eliminate odor and to wash the sludge away. EM also helps as a countermeasure after floods. Activated EM･1 was sprayed also to the fallen apples.
Here is what they did for the recovery of their orchard, with helps from families and EM volunteers.
<October 2019>
• Sprayed 3000L of Activated EM･1 with salt on soil, and conducted debris removal
• Installed tanks of Activated EM･1 with salt (2,000L)
• Placed 700 plastic 500 ml bottles of Activated EM･1 EM around the orchard
<November>
• Sprayed 3,900L of Activated EM･1 with salt on soil, removed debris, apple removal from the trees
• Installed tanks of Activated EM･1 EM with salt (2,000L)
<December>
•Sprayed a 1:100 dilution of Activated EM･1 on trees three times
• Washed off mud and oil adhering to trees
• Placed bamboo charcoal at the base of the trees in the field where oil flowed.
• Spread EM bokashi throughout the entire area
As the soil was under water for a long period of time, they were worried if the tree roots were damaged and would catch diseases, or if the trees would bear fruits next year. So, they did everything they could, using latest EM Technology.
Here is what they did for the recovery of their orchard, with helps from families and EM volunteers.
<October 2019>
• Sprayed 3000L of Activated EM･1 with salt on soil, and conducted debris removal
• Installed tanks of Activated EM･1 with salt (2,000L)
• Placed 700 plastic 500 ml bottles of Activated EM･1 EM around the orchard
<November>
• Sprayed 3,900L of Activated EM･1 with salt on soil, removed debris, apple removal from the trees
• Installed tanks of Activated EM･1 EM with salt (2,000L)
<December>
•Sprayed a 1:100 dilution of Activated EM･1 on trees three times
• Washed off mud and oil adhering to trees
• Placed bamboo charcoal at the base of the trees in the field where oil flowed.
• Spread EM bokashi throughout the entire area
As the soil was under water for a long period of time, they were worried if the tree roots were damaged and would catch diseases, or if the trees would bear fruits next year. So, they did everything they could, using latest EM Technology.
Preparation for 2020 harvesting
More EM activities continued in 2020.EM graviton agricultural technology was applied to 1.5ha of the most heavily damaged apple orchard. EM materials were applied every month, EM・X GOLD was sprayed on barrier bottles, and EM Water was added to the drip system to enhance the layering effect.
Generally, it takes two to three years for apple orchards that are completely submerged to return to their original state. In fact, neighboring orchards experienced large decrease in their yield due to the flood damage. However, at Iwaien, their trees produced the largest number of apples in their history. All varieties bore apples with best size, color, and taste. They were surprised and happy to harvest so many high-quality apples.
Moreover, they were glad that they could make shipment without loss of overripe apples in 2022. Before they applied EM graviton agriculture, it was hard for them to judge the best timing of harvest because the apples were not colored uniformly, and they could not sell apples at the end of the season.
Moreover, they were glad that they could make shipment without loss of overripe apples in 2022. Before they applied EM graviton agriculture, it was hard for them to judge the best timing of harvest because the apples were not colored uniformly, and they could not sell apples at the end of the season.
(Updated in December, 2020)
