Effective microorganisms and their influence on vegetable production - a review.

摘要

This review aims to describe the nature of effective microorganisms (EM) and how EM influence the growth, yield, quality, and protection of vegetable plants. EM comprise a mixture of live natural cultures of microorganisms isolated from fertile soils that are used to improve crop production. EM technology was developed over 40 years ago by Dr. Tero Higa in Japan. How EM act and interact in the soil-plant environment to suppress plant pathogens and disease, to conserve energy, to solubilise soil minerals, to aid the balance and ecology of soil microbes, and to improve photosynthetic efficiency and biological nitrogen fixation are described. In 70% of published studies, it was concluded that EM had a positive effect on the growth of vegetables, while, in the other 30%, they had no significant influence. In this investigation, among 22 reports on the effects of EM on the yields of vegetables, 84% were positive, 4% were negative, and 12% showed no significant influence. It is concluded that EM can improve the quality and yield of vegetables by reducing the incidence of pests and diseases, and by protecting against weeds, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture.