How effective are ‘Effective microorganisms® (EM)’? Results from a field study in temperate climate
Abstract
Effective microorganisms® (EM) is a microbial inoculant promoted to stimulate plant growth and soil fertility in agriculture. In our study we investigated the effects of EM on crop yields and soil microbial parameters in a 4-year field experiment under organic management (2003-2006) in Zurich, Switzerland. Treatments of the EM preparations (i) the spraying agent EMA, (ii) EMA with the EM enriched organic substrate Bokashi and (iii) EMA with Bokashi and farmyard manure were applied in each year. As controls to treatments (i)-(iii) the same treatments were included with sterilised EM preparations and a control without EM application. Crop yields in each year and the soil microbiological parameters soil respiration, microbial biomass (SIR, CFE), dehydrogenase activity and microbial community structure (RISA, CLSU) were determined in spring and autumn 2005 and spring 2006. In laboratory incubation experiments cellulose degradation, N mineralisation potential and N mineralisation from added substrate were determined. The EMA application as spraying agent alone (treatment (i)) showed no significant differences to the untreated control (treatment without EM application) for any of the investigated parameters. Significant differences to the untreated control for crop yields and soil microbial parameters were found if Bokashi was applied in addition to EMA ((ii) and (iii)). However, these differences were not consistent throughout the parameters and sampling times. Treatments with living EM compared with its sterilised control treatments showed no differences on any of the parameters. This indicates that the small effects observed were not caused by the EM microorganisms but rather by the nutrient inputs derived from Bokashi. The sampling time showed stronger effects on soil microbial biomass, soil respiration and microbial community structure when compared to the effects of the treatments. We conclude from our results that ‘Effective microorganisms' did not improve yields and soil quality during 4 years of application in this field experiment under the temperate climatic conditions of Central Europe.
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EM-produced substances inhibit harmful microbial species and enhance the production or proliferation of beneficial organisms.
“and thus inhibit harmful microbial species as well as enhance the production/proliferation of organisms that are beneficial to an animal.”
From Environmental applications of Effective Microorganisms: a review of current knowledge and recommendations for future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
EM is commercially available as EM-1 suspension concentrate, used as a basic formulation for EM preparations obtained through anaerobic fermentation of sugar cane, molasses, and water (EMA), fermentation of water, sugar cane molasses, and vinegar (EM5), or fermentation of fermentable organic substrate and sugar cane molasses (Bokashi).
“EM is commercially available as an EM-1® suspension concentrate, which is utilized as a basic formulation of various EM preparations obtain through sugar cane, molasses, and water's anaerobic fermentation (EMA), or fermentation of water, sugar cane molasses, and vinegar (EM5), or fermentation of fermentable organic substrate and sugar cane molasses (Bokashi) [25].”
From Environmental applications of Effective Microorganisms: a review of current knowledge and recommendations for future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
EM produces substances that act as antioxidants.
“It has been demonstrated that EM produces substances that play the role of antioxidants [25]”
From Environmental applications of Effective Microorganisms: a review of current knowledge and recommendations for future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
EM-produced substances detoxify harmful substances.
“Moreover, these substances detoxify harmful substances [25].”
From Environmental applications of Effective Microorganisms: a review of current knowledge and recommendations for future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
EM has its composition kept a secret.
“One of such technologies is referred to as Effective Microorganisms (EM) having its composition kept a secret [25].”
From Environmental applications of Effective Microorganisms: a review of current knowledge and recommendations for future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
EMA and EM5 are spraying substances used in enhancing soil and manure quality and in disease control.
“EMA and EM5 are spraying substances that are used not only in enhancing soil and manure quality but also in disease control [25].”
From Environmental applications of Effective Microorganisms: a review of current knowledge and recommendations for future directions (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
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- Authors
- Mayer, J., Scheid, S., Widmer, F., Fließbach, A., & Oberholzer, H.-R.
- Affiliations
- Agroscope (CH)
- Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Mayer, Jochen
- Venue
- Applied Soil Ecology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-10
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 230-239
- ISSN
- 0929-1393 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2025388087
- Cited by
- 161
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Soil Ecology (publishedVersion)
- Organic Eprints (International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems, and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Agroscope
- Bundesamt für Umwelt
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture, Plant Science, Crop Management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
- Keywords
- effective microorganisms, microbial inoculants, bokashi, crop yield, soil microbial biomass, soil respiration, dehydrogenase activity, soil microbial community structure, nitrogen mineralization, cellulose degradation, organic farming, farmyard manure, soil quality, plant growth promotion
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