Agron. Sustain. Dev. 26 (2006) 257-262
DOI: 10.1051/agro:2006024

Foliar application of effective microorganisms on pea as an alternative fertilizer

Arshad Javaid

Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore, Pakistan

(Accepted 31 August 2006; published online 23 January 2007)

Abstract - Effective microorganisms are cultures of coexisting beneficial microorganisms predominantly consisting of species of photosynthetic and lactic acid bacteria, yeast and actinomycetes, that could be used for alternative crop production. I studied the effect of soil and foliar application of these microorganisms on crop growth, yield and nodulation in pea (Pisum sativum L.), in soils amended with Trifolium alexandrinum L. green manure, farmyard manure and NPK fertilizers. The results show that foliar application of effective microorganisms enhanced nodulation, using NPK amendment, reaching a 217% increase for nodule number and a 167% increase for nodule biomass. Similarly, a grain yield increase of 126% for NPK amendment and of 145% for green manure amendment was found after foliar application of effective microorganisms. These findings show that foliar application of effective microorganisms in combination with proper soil amendment can improve nodulation and yield in pea.

Key words: effective microorganisms / soil application / foliar spray / soil amendments / pea / nodulation / yield

Corresponding author: Arshad Javaid arshadjpk2004@yahoo.com

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2006