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The Concept and Theories of Effective Microorganisms

T. Higa and G. N. Wididana

University of the Ryulyus, Okinawa, Japan

Full Paper (PDF File: 152KB)

Abstract

A principal goal of nature farming is to produce abundant and healthy crops without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and without causing adverse effects on the natural environment. One means of achieving this goal is through the use of effective microorganisms (EM). The benefits of EM in increasing crop yields, improving crop quality, and protecting plants from pests and disease have been demonstrated for a wide range of crops and soil conditions. The concept of EM is based on the inoculation of mixed cultures of beneficial microorganisms into soil where they shift the microbiological equilibrium and create an environment that is favorable to the growth and health of plants. A series of inoculations are made to ensure that the introduced microorganisms continue their dominance over the indigenous populations. The exact mechanism of how EM acts and interacts in the soil-plant ecosystem is not known. However, there is evidence that supports a number of theories concerning the action of EM. These include the suppression of plant pathogens and diseases, conservation of energy in plants, solubilization of soil minerals, soil microbial-ecological balance, photosynthetic efficiency, and biological nitrogen fixation. Future research will help to verify these hypotheses.