Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-19T06:52:37.181Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rice and wheat production in Pakistan with Effective Microorganisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Tahir Hussain ,
T. Javaid ,
J.F. Parr ,
G. Jilani  and
M.A. Haq
Tahir Hussain
Affiliation:
Director, Nature Farming Research Center, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
T. Javaid
Affiliation:
Scientific Officer, Nature Farming Research Center, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
J.F. Parr
Affiliation:
Deputy Director, Nature Farming Research Center, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
G. Jilani
Affiliation:
Research Fellow, Nature Farming Research Center, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
M.A. Haq
Affiliation:
President, Nature Farming Research and Development Foundation, Lompoc, California.
Get access

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the use of soil microbial inoculants as an alternative biological approach to a) improve soil quality, b) enhance the growth, yield and quality of crops, and c) reduce the inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture worldwide. One such product that has received considerable attention, is Effective Microorganisms or EM; it consists of mixed cultures of beneficial microorganisms. A long-term field experiment was conducted at Faisalabad, Pakistan to determine the agronomic and economic merits of EM in a rice-wheat cropping system. Treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design that included: control (untreated); recommended chemical fertilizer (NPK); green manure (GM); farmyard manure (FYM); Effective Microorganisms (EM) alone; NPK + EM; GM + EM; and FYM + EM. Significantly higher grain and straw yields for both crops were obtained with NPK alone, with other treatments in the following order: NPK > GM > FYM > EM. However, when fertilizer and organic amendments were combined with EM, higher grain and straw yields were obtained for each crop following the same order, i.e., NPK+EM > GM+EM > FYM+EM. The GM+EM treatment produced grain and straw yields for each crop that approached those for NPK alone. In all cases, the grain and straw yields from EM alone were higher than the controls. With few exceptions, EM applied in combination with NPK, GM and FYM caused a significant increase in nutrient uptake by the grain and straw of each crop. The uptake of NPK by both crops was higher for EM alone than for the controls. A comparative economic analysis of the treatments showed a significantly higher net return due to EM. The average net profit from rice and wheat production using EM was $44.90 ha−1 and $62.35 ha−1, respectively. The study indicates that EM can enhance maximum economic yields in a rice-wheat rotation and also improve soil productivity when applied with organic amendments.

Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 30 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Ahmad, B., Hussain, Z., and Longmire, J.. 1993. Farm Management Handbook, Economic and Policy Analysis Project, ASSP/USAID. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Google Scholar
2.Arakawa, Y. 1991. Kyusei Nature Farming in Japan. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 20–23.Google Scholar
3.Chowdhury, A.R., Hossain, M.M., Mia, M.S., Karim, A.J.M.S., Haider, J., Bhuiyan, N.I. and Saifuddin, Kh.. 1994. Effect of organic amendments and EM on crop production in Bangladesh. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 155–163.Google Scholar
4.Duncan, D.B. 1961. Multiple Range and Multiple F-Tests. Biometrics 11:1–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Government of Pakistan. 1983. Pakistan Census of Agriculture (1980). Vol. II, Part 2: Province Report-Punjab. Agriculture Census Organization, Statistics Division, Islamabad, Pakistan.Google Scholar
6.Government of Pakistan. 1993. Pakistan Fertilizer Related Statistics. Planning and Developments Division, National Fertilizer Development Center, Islamabad, Pakistan.Google Scholar
7.Higa, T. 1991. Effective Microorganisms: A biotechnology for mankind. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 8–14.Google Scholar
8.Higa, T. and Wididana, G. N.. 1991a. Concept and theories of Effective Microorganisms. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 118–124.Google Scholar
9.Higa, T. and Wididana, G.N.. 1991b. Changes in the soil microflora induced by Effective Microorganisms. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 153–162.Google Scholar
10.Higa, T. and Kinjo, S.. 1991. Effect of lactic acid fermentation bacteria on plant growth and soil humus formation. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 140–147.Google Scholar
11.Higa, T. and Parr, J.F.. 1994. Beneficial and Effective Microorganisms for a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. International Nature Farming Research Center, Atami, Japan. 16 p.Google Scholar
12.Hussain, T. and Muhammad, S.. 1991. Nature Farming in Pakistan. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 87–100.Google Scholar
13.Hussain, T., Khan, A.K., Jilani, G., Abbas, M.A. and Yaseen, M.. 1993. Prospects of using EM technology for wheat production. J. Agric. Research 31:37–41.Google Scholar
14.Hussain, T., Jilani, G., Yaseen, M. and Abbas, M.A.. 1994. Effect of organic amendments and EM on crop production in Pakistan. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 132–139.Google Scholar
15.Hussain, T., Jilani, G., Parr, J.F. and Ahmad, R.. 1995. Transition from conventional to alternative agriculture: The role of green manure in substituting for inorganic N fertilizers in a ricewheat farming system. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 10(3):133–137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Ibrahim, M., Avais, M.A., Ahmad, N. and Khair, A.. 1993. Effect of Effective Microorganisms on wheat yield. In Proceedings of the First National Seminar on Nature Farming. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, p. 50–53.Google Scholar
17.Karim, A.J.M.S., Chowdhury, A.R., and Haider, J.. 1992. Effect of manuring and Effective Microorganisms on physicochemical properties of soil and yield of wheat. In Proceedings of the First APNAN Conference on EM Technology. Asia-Pacific Natural Agriculture Network, Bangkok, Thailand.Google Scholar
18.Lee, K.H. 1994. Effect of organic amendments and EM on the growth and yield of crops and on soil properties. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 142–147.Google Scholar
19.Lin, D.L. 1994. Nature Farming in Taiwan: Effect of organic amendments and EM on rice production. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 148–152.Google Scholar
20.Minami, T. and Higa, T.. 1994. Kyusei Nature Farming in Japan: Effect of EM on the yield of paddy rice. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 97–102.Google Scholar
21.Myint, C.C. 1994. Effect of organic amendments and EM on rice production in Myanmar. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 82–91.Google Scholar
22.Panchaban, S. 1991. Effect of EM on growth and yield of corn. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Whitman, C.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 132–139.Google Scholar
23.Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Kaufman, D.D.. 1994. Use of microbial inoculants and organic fertilizers in agricultural production. Extension Bulletin No. 394. Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC), Taipei, Taiwan. 16p.Google Scholar
24.Sharifuddin, H.A.H., Shahbuddin, M.F., and Zaharah, A.R.. 1994. Effect of organic amendments and EM on production of food crops in Malaysia. In Parr, J.F., Hornick, S.B., and Simpson, M.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. p. 171–178.Google Scholar
25.Steel, R.G.D. and Torrie, J.H.. 1986. Principles and Procedures of Statistics, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York. 187 p.Google Scholar