Back B. Marambe and U. R. Sangakkara
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Full Paper (PDF File: 147KB)
Abstract
Field experiments were carried out during three consecutive cropping seasons to elucidate the efficiency of dry matter partitioning in maize (Zea mays L) as affected by Effective Microorganisms (EM). EM was sprayed after diluting to 1/1000, 1/500 and 1/200, at a rate of 10 1/ha as a basal spray and at time of flowering of maize, to plots supplied with sheep dung at the rate of 6 t/ha. Plots with only sheep dung or chemical fertilizer or without soil amendments were used as control treatments.
Plots with no soil amendments or only sheep dung resulted in the lowest growth and grain yield (761 - 981 kg/ha), and inefficient dry matter partitioning in maize. During the first two seasons, application of EM did not produce any significant effect on growth or yield of maize when compared to chemical fertilizer. However, in the third season, EM when applied after diluting to 1/1000 and 1/500 gave similar yields, but 1/200 gave significantly higher yields when compared to that of the conventional plots. The dry matter partitioning to maize cobs in EM treated plots (1/200) was significantly higher when compared to the chemical fertilizer treatments. The starch and sugar analysis also supported these findings.
The results indicate that EM increases growth and grain yield of maize with time. Application of EM after diluting to 1/200 at a rate of 10 1/ha together with sufficient organic matter in consecutive seasons could be a viable technique to increase maize production via efficient dry matter partitioning.