Back K. H. Lee
Korea Nature Farming Research Center, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Korea
Full Paper (PDF File: 250KB)
Abstract
Several crops were studied in field plots to determine the effect of compost and effective microorganisms (EM) on growth and yield, and on soil chemical properties. In studies with Chinese cabbage and red peppers, growth and yield of the plants were greater in the second year than in the first. Results of first year studies with lettuce, cabbage, and rice were not as clearly defined. Improvements in the growth of lettuce may have been related to the increased source of nutrients from the EM + compost. Production of cabbage with EM was similar to the N-P-K fertilizer treatment. However, insect pests were not completely controlled and the commercial value of the cabbage was reduced. Rice yields in the EM + compost treated plots were similar to those in the N-P-K plots, the EM + compost treatment map have supplied the nutrients for equivalent productivity. During the growing season with red pepper, both EM solution and EM + compost increased the levels of available P2O5, Ca, and Mg in the soil. After rice harvest, soil in the EM-treated plots was found to have a higher P2O5 concentration compared with the other treatments.