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EM Background Performance of Effective Microorganisms (EM) on Growth and Yields of Selected Vegetables S.P. Yadav President & Executive Director CWDS P.O. Box 7923 Katmandu, Nepal Tel: +977-1-350196; Fax: +977-1-350038 Abstract It is well understood that microorganisms play a very important role in the farming ecosystem; however the activities related to its production, preservation and utilization on commercial scale in agriculture sector are fast increasing in the recent time only. The Effective Microorganisms (EM) solution has been found to be very effective under field conditions in Nepal. The beneficial role of this microbial solution has the ability to break down organic matter, thereby providing plant nutrients and enhancing physical and chemical properties. This field study conducted in the hills of Nepal tried to establish the most effective dilution rate of EM stock solution and the spraying intervals. The study has evaluated the effect of foliar spray of EM solutions on the growth and Yields of tow (Radish and Cabbage) important vegetables grown commercially as off-season vegetables in the hills of Nepal. Radish: There was no visible difference in the vegetative growth but the yield of radish roots (the edible parts) was significantly higher in the EM applied plots over the farmers' usual practice--the control. The highest yield of 70.5% more over control was recorded in the test plots with EM (1:500 dilution) sprayed at 15 days intervals. More important observation was the delayed hardening quality of radish roots in EM applied plots. Cabbage: All the EM sprayed plots gave more yields over control. However, the spraying (foliar) application of EM (1:500) at 15 days interval was the most effective with 91.58% more yield over control. The yield in plots with 1:1000 EM dilution sprayed at 45 days intervals was the lowest among EM sprayed plots and that was also 9.47% more over control. The encouraging aspect observed in the experiment was the compactness of cabbage heads which was better in EM applied plots. Presented in the "Conference on EM Technology and Nature Farming" from 20th to 22nd September 2000 in Pyongyong, DPR Korea. Introduction Vegetable crops have a high market value in Nepal for cash earnings to the farm families. The hills in Nepal, specially the market hinterland areas, have the comparative advantage of the climate in growing off-season vegetables on commercial scale to meet the market demand in the city areas. The enterprises of off-season vegetables growing have increased quite significantly in the recent years with high economic return to the farmers and all round availability of fresh vegetables to the consumers. Radish and cabbage are the dominant vegetables grown with excessive use of chemical fertilizers to promote growth and pesticides to control disease and insect pests. With this package of practices, the soil has become dependent on chemical fertilizers and crop plants to pesticides. This has given rise to the development to several soil-born diseases resulting into deteriorating crop harvest in the successive seasons both in quality and quantity. Thus, the farmers are interested in looking for the alternative package of practices in order to sustain the vegetable production without being dependent on the external inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The efforts have focused on methods and techniques that can provide optimum yields, but without excessive increase in the production costs. Thus, the most important consideration in the selection of new technologies is that they enhance the availability of plant nutrients and their uptake by crops. The concept and technology of Effective Microorganisms (EM) were developed by Professor Teruo Higa, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. EM consists of mixed cultures of naturally-occurring beneficial microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and yeast) that are applied as inoculants to change the microbial diversity and interaction in soils and plants. In return, EM has been shown to improve soil health and the growth, yield and quality of crops over a wide range of agro-ecological conditions (Higa and Parr 1994). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of foliar (spray) applications of EM on the vegetative growth and yields of two (Radish and Cabbage) major vegetables grown. Materials and Methods This field study was conducted in the field program area (Kakani) of CWDS in Nuwakot district hills (6000 ft.) outside Katmandu valley in Nepal during the year 1999. Four weeks old cabbage seedlings were transplanted in the beds prepared for this trial. The hybrid variety (Green stone) was used for the trial as this is one of the popular cabbage variety used for off-season cabbage cultivation in the area. In case of Radish, direct seedling of white-neck variety was done. The treatments (given below) with three replications were laid out in randomized complete block design and the test materials (EM foliar spray) were applied at 15, 30 and 45 days intervals. The EM concentrate was diluted with water at 1:1000 and 1:500 dilution rate and applied as foliar spray. Control plots for both (cabbage and Radish) crops were not given EM foliar spray of any dilution. All the plots were of 3 x 1 meter dimension having an area of three square meter in each of the test plots. During land preparation, 5 kg of compost manure was applied in each plot. There were 30 plants in each of the cabbage plots whereas radish was at the spacing of 30 x 15 cm apart. Results and Discussion The EM stock solution used in this study is the one available in Nepal which is being prepared under the guidance of EM Research Officer designated from EMRO through APNAN. Foliar application of EM results in a large number of beneficial microorganisms at the leaf surface, or phyllosphere. It is believed that certain microorganisms in EM culture including photosynthetic bacteria and N-fixing bacteria, can enhance the plants' photosynthetic rate and efficiency, and N-fixing capacity as well (Pati and Chandra 1981). Microorganisms in EM appear to suppress the development of harmful pathogens at the leaf surface, thereby providing a measure of plant protection through bio-control (Wididana and Higa 1995). As shown in the tables below, the foliar application of EM resulted in a significant increase in the yields of cabbage and radish. However, the EM application at 15 days interval with 1:500 dilution has given the highest yields in both the crops. The highest yield (36.30 kg) of cabbage was obtained with EM applied at 0.2% at 15 days intervals; the highest yield (16.20 kg) of radish with 0.2% at 15 days intervals. This corresponded to a percentage increase in yield of cabbage and radish (EM 0.2% at 15 days intervals foliar spray) of 91.05% and 71.50% compared with (no EM foliar spray) controls, respectively. Cabbage 1:1000 dilution EM 1:500 dilution EM Control 15 days interval 28.60 36.30 19.00 30 days interval 24.50 32.20 -- 45 days interval 20.80 26.20 -- Highest yield among EM treated plots: 36.30kg. in 1:500 dilution at 15 days interval spray. (36.30 - 19.00 = 17.30) 17.30 / 19.00 x 100 = 91.05% higher yield (1:500 dilution at 15 days interval) over control. Lowest yield among EM treated plots: 20.80 kg in 1:1000 dilution at 45 days interval spray. (20.80 - 19.00 = 1.80) 1.80 / 19.00 x 100 = 9.47% higher yield over control. Radish 1:1000 dilution EM 1:500 dilution EM Control 15 days interval 13.60 16.20 9.50 30 days interval 11.50 13.50 -- 45 days interval 10.20 11.60 -- Highest yield among EM treated plots: 16.20 kg in 1:500 dilution at 15 days interval spray. (16.20 - 9.50 = 6.7 kg) 6.70 / 9.50 x 100 = 70.50% more yield (of 1:500 EM at 15 days interval spray) over control. Lowest yield among EM treated plots: 10.20 kg in 1:1000 dilution at 45 days interval spray. (10.20 - 9.50 = 0.70) 0.70 / 9.50 x 100 = 7.37% more over control. Conclusion The introduction of beneficial microorganisms to enhance the growth and yields of crops like cabbage and radish is new area of research in Nepal. In the present study, which was undertaken in the high hills, the soil organic matter content in the test plots was very low. Still, when EM foliar spray was applied at certain concentrations and time intervals there was significant increase in crop yields. This indicates that EM solution has positive impact on the growth and yields of vegetables. The compactness of cabbage heads and softness of radish roots which remained for a longer period are the subsidiary and very relevant contributions of EM in making the crops useful for marketing perspective. More intense and systematic study is required in this respect which can provide a better understanding of the usefulness of EM applications in making vegetables growing a more profitable income generating activity for the farmers for their economic benefits. This will also make substantial contribution to the consumers in providing better and pollution free vegetables to their daily diet. Regenerating/transforming the land from chemically polluted to microbial populated is the comparative advantage to be noted by the use of EM technology. References Higa, T. and J.F. Parr. 1994. Beneficial and Effective Microorganisms for a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. International Nature Farming Research Center, Atami, Japan.16 P. Wididana, G.N. and T. Higa. 1995. Effect of EM on the Production of Vegetable Crops in Indonesia. Pati, B.R. and A.K. Chandra. 1981. Effect of spraying nitrogen-fixing phyllosphere bacterial isolates on wheat plants. Plant and Soil (61:419-427). See Study on the Plant Growth Hormones in EM-A Case Study.

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