Field evaluation of effective microorganisms (EM ) application for growth, nodulation, and nutrition of mung bean.

Effective microorganisms (EM) is a commercial biofertilizer that contains a mixture of co-existing beneficial microorganisms collected from natural environments. Predominantly it consists of species of photosynthetic and lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and actinomycetes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of EM application on growth, nodulation, yield, and nutrient uptake in mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] var. NIAB Mung 98 under field conditions. Field soil was amended with farmyard manure at 20 t ha-1, Trifolium alexandrinum green manure at 20 t ha-1, and recommended (NPK) and half (1/2 NPK) doses of chemical fertilizers. EM was applied in the form of a dilute solution in water (1:1000) at fortnight intervals throughout the experiment. EM application significantly enhanced shoot biomass in farmyard manure, 1/2 NPK and NPK amendments. Similarly, EM significantly increased grain yield by 24% and 46% in farmyard manure and NPK fertilizers amendments, respectively. By contrast, in green manure amendment, EM application resulted in a significant decline of 23% in grain yield. In 1/2 NPK amendment, the effect of EM application on grain yield was insignificant. Nodulation in terms of number and biomass of nodules was significantly suppressed by EM application in farmyard manure and green manure amendments. In NPK amendment, a significant increase in nodule biomass was recorded due to EM application. EM significantly enhanced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrition of the test plant in farmyard manure amendment both at flowering stage and maturity. However, in NPK amended soil, EM application markedly enhanced plant nutrition at later growth stage only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]