Effective microorganisms" (EM) are a poorly defined mixture of supposedly beneficial microorganisms that are claimed to enhance microbial turnover in compost and soil. In Costa Rica, EM are used to produce organic compost (bokashi) from banana residues (Musa ssp.). Given the scarcity of scientific data about the effects of EM on the mineralization of plant residues, this study aimed at investigating the effects of EM addition on the decomposition of banana residues during Bokashi production. To this end, the following non-EM treatments were compared to EM Bokashi: Bokashi produced with water (W), with molasses (M) as an EM additive, and with sterilized EM (EMst). Subsequently, the effects of the resulting Bokashi treatments on the growth of young banana plants were evaluated. Compared with non-EM controls, the effect of EM on the mineralization of banana material was negligible. Dry-matter losses of the composts with different EM treatments were similar, with about 78% over 5 weeks. Ergosterol concentration was highest in EM Bokashi (77 lg (g dry soil) -1 ) and lowest in EMst Bokashi (29 lg (g dry soil) -1 ). Microbial biomass carbon (C mic ) and microbial biomass nitrogen (N mic ) were both lowest in EM (C mic = 3121 lg g -1 ; N mic = 449 lg g -1 ), while C mic was highest in Bokashi produced with molasses (3892 lg g -1 ) and N mic was highest in EMst (615 lg g -1 ). Treatment effects on adenylate concentrations and adenylate energy charge were negligible. Application of all Bokashi variants to young banana plants significantly increased shoot growth under greenhouse conditions compared to plants grown in a control soil without amendments. However, these effects were similar for all Bokashi treatments, even if EM Bokashi increased the K concentrations in banana leaves significantly compared to Bokashi produced with EMst and the control. Bokashi produced with only molasses and EM Bokashi decreased the number of root nematodes under greenhouse conditions compared to the control. Overall, the results confirmed the expected influence of composting on the degradation of organic material and the effect of compost application on plant growth. Hower, under the conditions of this study, EM showed no special effects in this, except for increasing the K concentrations in the leaves of young banana plants.
Many microbial turnover processes in acidic sandy subtropical soils are still poorly understood. In a 59-day pot and a 189-day laboratory incubation experiment with two West African continuous cereal soils, the effects of 2 mg g −1 root residues were investigated on growth of sorghum seedlings, soil microbial biomass and activity indices, using cowpea, groundnut, pearl millet, maize and sorghum. The effects of root residues were compared with mineral P or mineral P + N treatments and with a non-fertilized control treatment. On the Alfisol (Fada, Burkina Faso), shoot dry mass was always significantly higher than on the Ultisol (Koukombo, Togo). Highest shoot dry mass was observed after application of mineral P + N on the Alfisol and after mineral P alone on the Ultisol. The application of legume root residues led to small and non-significant increases in dry mass production compared to the non-amended control, whereas the application of cereal root residues led to a decline, regardless of their origin (millet, maize or sorghum). Contents of microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N and ergosterol were 75 to 100% higher in the Alfisol than in the Ultisol, while ATP was only 36% higher. Organic amendments increased ergosterol concentrations by up to 145% compared to the control and mineral P application. Microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N increased by up to 50% after application of root residues, but ATP only up to 20%. After application of legume root residues, cumulative CO 2 production was similar in both soils with an average of 370µg CO 2 -C g −1 over 189 days. After application of cereal root residues, cumulative CO 2 production was higher in the Alfisol (530µg g −1 ) than in the Ultisol (445µg g) over 189 days.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.