Impact of Effective Microorganisms (EM) Application on the Physical Condition of Haplic Luvisol

Jacek Pranagal,Sławomir Ligęza,Halina Smal

doi:10.3390/agronomy10071049

Jacek Pranagal, Sławomir Ligęza + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10071049

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Journal: Agronomy	Publication Date: Jul 21, 2020
Citations: 9	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Life Sciences in Lublin

Abstract

The study set out to determine changes in the soil air-water properties, the water-stable aggregate share and organic carbon content as effects of a five-year application of effective microorganisms (EM-A). The hypothesis that long-term applied EM-A biopreparations have a positive effect on the soil physical condition has not been confirmed. Haplic Luvisols originating from silt were studied in a field experiment after EM-A biopreparation treatment. The soil samples with the natural structure preserved intact were collected three times each year. The properties of the soil determined in the study were: particle density, total organic carbon content, bulk density, total porosity, air capacity, air permeability, soil moisture at sampling, field water capacity, available water content, unavailable water content, and water-stable aggregate content. The ratio of field water capacity and total porosity (FC/TP) was calculated. It was found that EM-A application primarily leads to a decrease in the content of organic carbon and water-stable aggregates. This was an adverse effect. Total organic carbon (TOC) and water-stable aggregates proved to be very sensitive indicators for assessing the soil physical condition. However, changes in soil compaction and air–water properties did not show significant deterioration. Our research addresses the data gaps about EM application to soil.

Highlights

Environmental soil data indicate that arable lands are increasingly exhibiting various forms of soil degradation, the implementation of special measures is needed [1]
The content of total organic carbon (TOC) in the soil was characterized by medium variability (CV = 0.17), and it was shown to drop from 4.86 g × kg−1 (EM) to 10.11 g × kg−1 (Control) (Table 1)
The results indicate that soil inoculation with effective microorganisms (EM-A) biopreparation did not have any significant effect on the value of field water capacity (FC), and the seasonal variation was negligible

Summary

Introduction

Environmental soil data indicate that arable lands are increasingly exhibiting various forms of soil degradation, the implementation of special measures is needed [1]. The humus formed as a result is one of the elements which determines the capacity of soil to store water and dissolved plant nutrients It affects the formation of the soil structure and its functional properties. The studies in question were typically one-year projects predominantly concerned with the biological and chemical properties of soil and the yield-forming effect of EMs. The results from the studies have shown that EM application leads to the reduction in the content of organic carbon (TOC) [29,33]. In a two-year study [39] conducted in Saudi Arabia under arid climate conditions, an effect of the application of an EM biopreparation, green manure (GM), and the combination of EM + GM on sandy loam soil was observed. The results of the study call into question existing, often controversial, opinions on the effect of EM-based biopreparations on the soil environment

Study Area and Sampling

III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII b mm mm c mm d mm e

Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Results and Discussion

Conclusions