Wheat

A long term trial (Cheng & Yingchun, 2012) over 11 Years conducted at China Agricultural University’s Qu-Zhou experiment station found that the long-term application of EM compost gave the highest values for the measured parameters and the lowest values in the control plot. The application of EM in combination with compost significantly increased wheat straw biomass, grain yields, straw and grain nutrition compared with traditional compost and control treatment. Wheat straw biomass, grain yields, straw and grain nutrition were significantly higher in compost soils than in untreated soil. This study indicated that application of EM significantly increased the efficiency of organic nutrient sources.

 

Reference

Cheng, H., & Yingchun, Q. (2012). Long-term effective microorganisms application promote growth and increase. European Journal of Agronomy.

EMNZ Cereal Trial - 2020/2021

Introduction

This field trial was designed to determine the effectiveness of EM treatment variations against competitor products and an untreated control on Wheat in Aylesbury. 

Method and Materials

• Cereal type and cultivar: Wheat, Discovery 
• Basal Fertilizers applied to paddock: Pre-plant =2.5 t/ha Lime
• Drilling kg/ha = P, K, S (22,22,20) plus Ca, Na, Mg, B, Zn, Mo (33, 5, 9, 2.4, 1.75, 0.008) plus humate 10kg/ha
• N Post emergence = 100kgs Amidas (40 units) and 2 x applications of 23 units of Liquid N. 
• Sowing date: 14th August
• Sowing Rate: 160 kg/ha
• Paddock History: Ex Chard
• Date of treatment application: Application A on 20/11/20 and Application B on 03/12/20.
• Harvest date: 24/2/2021 
• Treatments = 8 (See Table 1), Replicates = 5,  Plot size = 2 x 8 m2 = 16 m2

Sampling technique/measurements:
Cropmark have independently harvested the trials using a precision plot harvester. This was performed blindly, just numbers, no treatment description. They provide plot weights and grain weights.
Data was then analyzed statistically by UC student, Brennan Fayen.

Table 1: Treatment Details

Results:  

Table 2: Average Plot Height and Vigor measured on 17/12/20.

In mid-December the plots were assessed for growth, by doing a vigor score (1-10) and measuring plant height. This data has not been statistically analyzed, but clearly demonstrated that EM plant stimulant was the best looking treatment with corresponding height advantage (Table 2).

Table 3: Comparing a range of foliar products on the yield of wheat (t/ha) Grain Yield

   
All of the foliar treatments which included five EM based foliar products and two micronutrient based foliar products, recorded significantly higher yields than the control (LSD5) (Table 3). 
Table 4: Comparing a range of foliar products, on the Grain Weight by volume (kg/HL) .

 
All foliar products recorded high grain weights than the control (LSD5).

 

Summary:

EM based foliar products performed very well against a control treatment.
EM based products generated significant products over the control