EFFECT OF EM (EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISM) FERMENTED BASED IRRIGATION AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZER ON THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL AND YIELD OF WHEAT CROP AT FARMER’S FIELD IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of EM fermented based irrigation along with chemical fertilizer on the soil properties and yield of wheat crop during 1999-2001 at Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design that included: control (untreated), NPK alone, EM fermented based irrigation, and NPK+ EM fermented based irrigation. The study revealed that the application of EM fermented based irrigation was able to improve soil pH, EC, % organic matter and major inorganic nutrient contents of the soil. Significant increase in all the yield contributing components of wheat was found with different treatments as compared to control in both years of experiment. However, significantly higher results were obtained when EM fermented based irrigation was applied in combination with NPK fertilizers. The treatments followed the order: EM fermented based irrigation + NPK > NPK > EM fermented based irrigation > control. The study indicated that the EM fermented based irrigation along with NPK fertilizer can improve soil productivity and enhance economic yield of wheat.