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Application of EM Technology for Intensive Organic Recycling, Soil Quality, Crop Yield and Quality, and Environmental Protection

Wei-Joing Li¹, Qin-long Sun², Hui Cao³, Ling-an Niu² and Yong-zhen Ni¹

China Agricultural University, Beijing, China¹
Handan Agricultural School, Hebei Province China² and
Beijing Land Management Bureau, Beijing, China³

Full Paper (PDF File: 238KB)

Abstract

A cooperative research study was conducted by Chinese agricultural institutions and the International Nature Farming Center, Nagano, Japan to evaluate the effect of EM technology on organic recycling, soil quality, crop yield and quality, and environmental protection. In the study, EM was mixed with farmyard manure (FYM) and sometimes with poultry manure and fermented prior to application to soil and crops. Compared with traditional FYM (alone) and chemical fertilizer, the EM+FYM treatments 1) increased total soil microbial biomass; 2) improved certain soil physical properties (i.e decreased soil bulk density) and chemical properties (i.e. increased soil cation exchange capacity); 3) increased soil organic matter content; 4) increased the level and plant availability or macronutrients (N-P-K); and 5) increased crude protein content of harvested corn. The grain yields of wheat and corn from the EM+FYM treatment were consistently 10 percent to 20 percent higher over a three-year period compared with FYM alone and chemical alone.