Have you ever wondered what to do with rice water?
I feel like we’ve wasted years of perfect water down the drain. So I did some research and it turns out rice water or potato water can be used to benefit your garden plants.
Rice water has very small NPK qualities. Therefore, do not use it as a substitute for plant fertilization. Instead, starch is the main ingredient. It cultivates and feeds good bacteria called lactobacilli, which can help feed good fungi like mycorrhizae. This in turn nourishes the roots of the plants, making them stronger, healthier and more resistant to disease.
One of the most important beneficial natural microorganisms used in natural agriculture is Lactobacillus. This particularly useful microbe is often used in compost to specifically stop the bad smells associated with anaerobic decomposition. Lactic acid bacteria thrive by feeding on the ammonia released during decomposition, which is often accompanied by a foul odor. So if you need to break down or ferment waste to avoid bad smells, lactic acid bacteria are for you. Its use in organic farming is enormous.
In aquaculture, one of the problems is related to water quality. Poor water quality can stress fish, which can stunt their growth and affect their health. This is especially evident in high density aquaculture and tanks. Ammonia from fish waste can pollute the water and stress the fish. Adding these beneficial microbes to your water on a regular basis will minimize, if not prevent, ammonia problems.
Spraying a dilute solution of lactic acid bacteria serum on plants and soil can promote plant growth and make it healthier. When applied to soil or leaves, these beneficial bacteria aid in the decomposition process, allowing plants to obtain and consume more food.
Lactic acid bacteria are known to produce enzymes and natural antibiotics that aid in efficient digestion and have antimicrobial properties, including against salmonella and bacteria, among others. coli. What farmers observe is overall crop and animal health, better nutrient absorption, feed conversion and elimination of certain toxins.
This is an easy way to collect such microbes. Lactic acid bacteria can be collected from the air.
Necessary materials
- Rice
- Jar with lid (1 quart mason wide mouth jar)
- Milk (milk from the store)
- Strainer, molasses(optional)
- 1 gallon container (optional) (depending on if you want/need to make a lot )
How To Make Your Homemade Fertilizer
1. Pour the rice water (the solution formed when you wash the rice with water) into a container, such as a plastic pot with a lid. Leave at least a 50-75% air gap in the container. The key here is airspace. Cover the container loosely with a lid (not vacuum-tight so that air can still get into the container). Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of foil. boy does it stink?
2. Place the container in a quiet place out of direct sunlight. Let the rice water ferment for at least 5-7 days. Lactic acid bacteria aggregate within 5-7 days when the temperature is 20-25 °C or 68-77 °F. The rice hearts are separated and float in the liquid like a thin, sour film. Strain and remove the liquid.
3. Put this liquid into a larger container and pour in ten parts milk. The original fluid became infected with various microorganisms, including lactobacilli. To get pure lactic acid bacteria, the saturation of the milk kills other microbes, leaving pure lactic acid bacteria. You can use skim milk or powdered milk, but fresh milk is best. In 5-7 days, carbohydrates, proteins and fats will swim away, leaving behind a yellow liquid (serum) containing lactic acid bacteria. You can discard solidified carbs, protein, and fat, add them to your compost pile, or feed them to animals.
4. Pure lactic acid bacteria serum can be stored in the refrigerator or directly added with the same amount of raw sugar (diluted with 1/3 water) or molasses. Do not use refined sugar as it is chemically bleached and can affect lactic acid bacteria. Sugar or molasses will keep the lactic acid bacteria alive at room temperature. A one-to-one ratio is recommended, although sugar, in any amount, is simply food for the bacteria to keep them alive. Now, this lactic acid bacteria serum with sugar or molasses becomes your pure culture.
5. When used, the pure culture can be diluted with 20 parts of water. Make sure the water has not been treated with chemicals such as chlorine. Use rainwater if possible, it’s free. Remember, we are dealing with live microorganisms and chlorine can kill them. This form is diluted 1:20 and is the basic preparation for lactic acid bacteria. Use two to four tablespoons per gallon of water as a base spray and add to water.
The Result
3 days after the milks was added.
10 days after adding rice water to milk. Sieve and use. Diluted before use. About a tablespoon per gallon.
