Utilisation of effective microorganisms commercial organic agriculture: a case study from New Zealand
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Date
1997
Type
Conference Contribution - published
Fields of Research
Abstract
The effect of EM on onion and sheep production on a commercial organic farm are reported, and
the problems of broad acre application of EM are discussed.
A trial in 1995 compared EM with a range of organic fertilisers in onion production, EM gave the
second highest yield which was significantly greater than the control. In addition EM gave the
highest percentage of first grade onions.
In 1996 1.3 ha of onion were intensively sprayed with EM from 6 weeks post emergence to 4 weeks
before lifting. The crop yielded much higher than previous onion crops (53 tonnes/ha). However
fungal diseases became a major problem in storage causing loss of 50 % of the crop. A potential
loss of US $ 15,000. Could this loss have been averted by the application of EM over the entire
growing period including seed treatment with EM ?
The growth rates of sheep and lambs grazing on EM treated pasture and drinking water were
compared in a separate trial. EM lambs had higher liveweight gains for the first three and last
weighing and has a higher overall liveweight gain. There was no significant difference between the
ewe liveweights. Internal parasite faecal egg numbers were lower in the EM treated lambs.
The EM application recommendations for Asia-Pacific Natural Agricultural Network (APNAN)
countries are difficult to implement in a New Zealand farming context. Alternative application
methods are discussed including the use of tractor mounted spraying equipment applying between
200 L to 1000 L of water per hectare, irrigation applying 250,000 L to 300,000 L of water per
hectare and the use of EM in livestock water systems.
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