Onions

This trial (Daly & Stewart, 1999) run over 2 seasons in Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand had four replicates and a plot size of 5 by 1.5 m. EM was applied at a rate of 10 L ha-1 with 10 L ha-1 of molasses mixed into water and applied at 10 000 L ha-1 through a watering can onto the foliage of the crop, on November 11, December 22 and January 20. Crop vigour was accessed visually at bulbing (January 22).  At harvest (March 7), the field dried onions were graded and weighed. EM plus molasses caused a significant yield increase over the untreated control and produced more first grade onions. The increase in yield over control when EM was added ranged 15-30% increase in yield. This data has been published in the reputable international Journal of Sustainable Agriculture.

Reference

Daly, M. J., & Stewart, D. P. (1999). Influence of effective microorganisms (EM) on vegetable production and carbon. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 14.