Observations on the Use of Effective Microorganisms (Kyusei

EMTM) on Selected Vegetable Crops Using Nutrient Enriched Water

from a Water Recirculated Intensive Fish Production System

J.F. Prinsloo and H.J. Schoonbee

Aquaculture Research Unit, University of the North

P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa1

Abstract : Integrated aquaculture-agriculture production systems were developed

primarily for sustainable food production in rural areas of South Africa. The
problem of environmental pollution was addressed by utilizing the nutrients in the
agricultural waste products to fertilize the fish ponds, thus stimulating pond
productivity and releasing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into irrigation
water for vegetable crop production. Due to problems encountered with soil quality
as a result of the build-up of nutrients due to chemical fertilizers and the excessive
use of pesticides, it was decided to implement EM technology to restore the organic
and micro-biological balances of the cultivated lands. Three vegetable crops,
namely cabbage, spinach and lettuce, were cultivated under different irrigation
systems, using EM, organic compost and inorganic chemical fertilizing programmes.
After the first application of EM Bokashi, significant improvements in vegetable
yields were recorded. EM treated plots proved to be superior in the yields of
cabbage and lettuce clearly exceeding the agricultural average for South Africa. In
the case of spinach, EM treated plots under drip irrigation proved to be the most
productive. Application of irrigation water as well as soil quality, appeared to be
two factors that must be considered when acertaining the amount of EM to be
applied to further improve yields following organic farming. Recommendations are
made to evaluate the health status of EM treated soils.

Introduction Although the agricultural output of South Africa can potentially increase to meet the
short to medium term demand for food, the ultimate constraint in the long term
remains the availability of water and the optimal use thereof. With an average
annual precipitation of approximately 500 mm for the country (well below the World
average), continuous efforts are being made in the construction of dams to optimise
retention of the surface run-off waters in order to provide for the increasing demand
for this scarce commodity for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes. At this
stage, it has already become necessary to recycle water for industrial use in particular,
but also for domestic purposes. Due to the development and exploitation of
innovative technologies, there still remains considerable scope to extend the food
production potential of water in agriculture as such. One way to achieve this
objective, it to integrate aquaculture with traditional agricultural practices where the
same volume of water can be used to grow fish before the nutrient-enriched water is
used to irrigate crops instead of discharging effluent waters from fish ponds into
river systems.

1
All correspondence should be addressed to : Tel;. (015) 2682294; Fax (015) 2682294; Email
[email protected]
The increasing costs of various components in formulated fish feeds, coupled with
the world wide shortage of fish meal as protein, have forced the major freshwater
fish producing countries to find alternative means of supplementing expensive fish
feed with less expensive substitutes without sacrificing too much of the growth
performance of the pond fish. One way is to promote the natural fish pond
productivity by using inorganic fertilizers in the ponds. However, it was
demonstrated that pond fish production can also be enhanced by the application of
organic susbstances such as animal manures. This approach has been investigated
by Chinese farmers centuries ago (Lin, 1954; Tang, 1970). The fish production
potential of ponds can be further exploited. Fish with different feeding habits can be
used in combinations that optimise the utilization of the various trophic levels in
fish pond ecosystems (Woynarowich, 1956; Bardach et al., 1972; Buck et al., 1979;
Moav et al., 1977; Hepher and Pruginin, 1981; Hepher, 1988). In South Africa,
notable contributions were made during the past 20 years to the use of pig, cattle,
poultry and sheep manures in fish mono-and polyculture systems to promote fish
pond productivity and consequent fish yields with and without the addition of high
protein formulated fish feeds (Prinsloo and Schoonbee, 1984 a-c; 1985; 1986; 1987
a). Integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems were next investigated by Prinsloo
and Schoonbee (1987 b) during which nutrient-enriched wastewater from duck-cum-
fish ponds was employed in vegetable production. This idea was further developed
by Prinsloo et al. (1999 a, b) in the Northern Province of South Africa. Fish
produced in these integrated systems as well as in intensive water recirculating
systems (Prinsloo et al., 1999 c, d) was used to combat and alleviate malnutrition
successfully amongst pre-school children in rural areas (Steyn et al., 1994; Steyn et
al., 1995; Tichelaar et al., 1999).

In view of the general scarcity of our portable water resources available to rural
communities, the optimal use of water in integrated systems, employing different
kinds of irrigation methods, were recently implemented (Prinsloo et el., 2000 – in
press). With the research and development invested into aquaculture in general, but
particularly into integrated aquaculture-agriculture food production systems which
are presently being established on a rural community basis, as well as on a
commercial scale, the stage has been set to incorporate another concept developed in
Asia, namely the inclusion of effective micro-organisms (EM Technology) into the
various components of integrated aquaculature-agriculture food production systems
under local conditions (Higa, 1996; Higa, 1998).

EM Technology is based on the philosophy of Mockichia Okada, a Japanese

naturalist and philosopher, who founded Sekai Kyusei Kyo in 1935, which, in
Japanese, literally means “saving the world through natural or nature farming
methods” (Higa, 1998). Behind this philosophical approach, lies the basis of
extremely fundamental and scientific truths which are primarily aimed at restoring
the natural ecological balance in soils to a condition where nature, through its
interaction between the unadulterated micro fauna and flora, can again play its role
in the restoration of the health status of our agricultural soils. Negative aspects
which are now ameliorated by the application of EM technology in Nature Farming,
include the elimination of less beneficial organisms harmful to crops, as well as
rectifying the detrimental effects of long term unwise applications of pesticides and
inorganic fertilizers to agricultural soils.
 According to this concept, Kyusei Nature Farming must fulfil the following five
major requirements. It must in the first instance, produce high quality food to
enhance human health. It must be economically and spiritually beneficial to both
the farmers and consumers. Above all, it must be sustainable and easily practised.
One of the basic principals also includes the fact that it must conform to nature and
in this way protect the environment. Also, it must be able to produce sufficient
food for an expanding world population. In other words, it must be economically
viable.

Effective micro-organisms (EM Technology) based on the principals layed down by

Okada, has become an important cornerstone of Kyusei Nature Farming Technology
by improving different aspects of soil quality and productivity, by increasing the
predominance and activity of beneficial soil micro-organisms and in this way,
enhancing the growth, health, yields and quality of crops by protecting the
environment from degradation and pollution (Higa, 1998).

The present investigation examined the production of selected vegetable crops by

comparing the effect of EM on yields with those of organic composts and inorganic
chemical fertilizers as employed in integrated aquaculture-agriculture food
production systems in semi-arid rural areas of South Africa. The economical use of
nutrient-enriched water employing different irrigation methods, was also
incorporated in this investigation conducted on the premises of the University of the
North, Northern Province, South Africa during the autumn-winter period of 1999.

Materials Irrigation Water Used

and
Methods Two types of nutrient-enriched irrigation water were used for drip, drum-
drip and micro-irrigation systems and for flood irrigation, respectively. In the first
case nutrient-enriched wastewater was obtained from a recirculating intensive fish
production unit stocked with tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) and the
Sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) at various stocking densities.

This same water was also pumped into integrated fish-poultry ponds where chicken
sheds were suspended over the fish ponds which then received further enrichment of
the water as a result of the nutrients emanating from chicken droppings and waste
chicken food (Prinsloo et al., 1999 b). This water was used in a flood irrigation
programme.

Physical and Chemical Conditions of Wastewater

Routine physical and chemical analyses were undertaken on the wastewater used for
irrigation purposes during both the autumn and early winter crop production periods.
Analyses were performed according to standard international procedures (Standard
Methods, 1995). Water temperature (c) was measured using a Thies hydro-
thermograph. Dissolved oxygen concentrations (mg/) of the wastewater were
determined using an Oxy 92 meter. pH values were determined with a portable
Hanna 8244 pH meter. The electrical conductivity (S/cm) was recorded with a
Hanna H1 8633 conductivity meter. Ammonia (NH3-mg/), nitrite (NO2-mg/), nitrate
(NO3-mg/), orthophosphate (PO4-mg/), as well as turbidity (NTU) were all
determined with a Hach spectrophotometer. Mean values, as well as ranges for the
experimental data for each parameter, were calculated.
Irrigation Systems Employed in Vegetable Production

The following irrigation systems were employed during the present investigation:
Flood irrigated water, which was the least economic in terms of water usage
(Prinsloo et al., 2000 in press), employing a 50 mm diameter plastic pipe fitted with
a valve, was siphoned from the chicken-fish pond system and discharged into the
different vegetable plots.

A Rondo medium-range micro-sprinkler was employed as alternative low-dosage

water irrigation system. Sprinklers were evenly spaced at distances of 1.5 m along
the water distribution lines.

A commercially designed 1.5 bar Hydrodrip II integral lateral drip system fitted
with in-line, 375 mm Super Amiad filters for the removal of solids from the waste
water, which prevented blocking of the drippers, was used.

A self-constructed drum-drip system, consisting of a series of 200 drums each fitted

with a valve and three lines of 30 mm tubing, 20 m in length and punctured at 300
mm intervals with 0.3 mm sized perforations, was employed.

Size of Plots and Crops Cultivated

The flood irrigation system consisted of three equal sized units of 15 rows each.
Each row was 10 m long. The total surface area irrigated in this way, was 450 m2.
The micro-sprinkler irrigation system was made up of 6 units of 5 rows each of 20 m
in length. This amounted to a total surface area irrigated of 600 m2. The drip
irrigation system consisted of a 700 m2 unit made up of 15 x 50 m rows. A complete
drum-drip system comprised three units, each with 3 rows of 20 m in length,
covering a total irrigation surface area of 180 m2. Three different crops were
cultivated under one or more of the four different irrigation systems. These included
cabbage, spinach and lettuce.

Soil Conditions of Irrigation Plots

Investigations showed the soils to be a sandy-loam nature and with a clay and sand
content of 11 percent and 68 percent respectively (Rozanov et al., 1999 –
unpublished report). Its hydrolic conductivity was classified as very rapid. The
phosphorus contents of the irrigated plots varied but remained considerably higher
than those of surrounding dry and virgin land.

Organic and Inorganic Fertilizing Programme

Organic Material Used in Preparation of Compost

Wheat straw compost was used as organic waste material on all irrigation plots
particularly so as a result of the sandy nature of the soils. Compost constituents
(volume/volume basis) comprised 90 percent wheat straw, 9 percent chicken manure
and 1 percent bone meal. Following thorough mixing, a 1:1:500 EM Kyan et al.
(1999): molasses:water mixture was sprayed onto the compost to achieve an
approximate 30 –40 percent moisture content. The mixed material was layered,
compacted and covered, first with hessian and then with a sealant ultra violet-
resistant black plastic sheeting. During the first seven days, EM-compost was evenly
mixed on a daily basis to prevent over-heating of the material during the initial
fermentation phase and covered as described. Usually, the fermenting compost
mixture may mature within this period but should preferably not be used within the
first 30 days following preparation as described, as was the case during the present
investigation. This EM-compost mixture was then evenly applied to the soils of all
irrigation plots at an approximate density of 1 kg/m2, and was mixed into the top 20
cm of the soil. In order to retain moisture of the EM treated soils, regular irrigation
of the soil was maintained for two months using the various irrigation systems
employed.

Fermentation of EM Bokashi

Two weeks before the planting of vegetable seedlings (middle, March 1999), EM
Bokashi (APNAN, 1995) was prepared for application. The basic constituents (on a
mass basis) included 70 percent wheat bran, 15 percent maize bran, 5 percent each of
soya bean meal, fish meal and bone meal. Due to volumes required, a concrete
mixer was employed to facilitate the homogenation of the mixture. A 1:1:500
(volume) EM:molasses:water mixture was added to obtain an approximate moisture
content of 35 percent. This mix was transferred to woven hessian bags and
anaerobically sealed in black ultra-violet, resistant plastic bags. A full seven day
period was allowed to obtain the necessary state of fermentation of the material.

Subdivision of Irrigation Plots

As mentioned, flood, micro-sprinkler, drip and drum-drip irrigation systems, were

employed to water the soils of the different fertilizer treatments which included
compost only, EM Bokashi and an inorganic chemical fertilizer programme.

For flood irrigation, one block of 15 x 10 m rows, covering a surface area of 150 m2
of the prepared land, received an additional 1 kg/ m2 of the original EM treated
wheat compost, 7 days before planting. This material was similarly worked into the
soil as described.

A second block of the same size received 200 g/ m2 of the fermented EM Bokashi.
A third block (same size) received inorganic chemical fertilizer (2.3.4 (30) Zn) at a
concentration of 4 g/ m2. No further organic fertilizer was applied to this block.

The micro-sprinkler irrigated plots were divided into two equal main sections
(block A and B). Each of these was sub divided into 3 smaller blocks of which each
consisted of 5 x 20 m irrigation rows. One row of each set of adjacent 5 rows of
both blocks A and B was then treated with the original EM-wheat compost (1 kg/
m2). The remaining 4 rows of each of the sets of 5 rows of block A, received 200 g/
m2 EM Bokashi. The corresponding remaining rows of block B were then treated
with inorganic chemical fertilizer (2.3.4(30) Zn at a concentration of 4 g/ m2.

The drip irrigation block was divided into two sub-blocks (A and B). Each of these
blocks consisted of 5 x 50 m rows. Row five of each sub-block was treated with the
original EM wheat straw compost at a rate of 1kg/ m2. EM Bokashi was applied to
rows 1-3 of each sub-block at a rate of 200 g/ m2. Inorganic chemical fertilizer
(2.3.4(3) Zn) was applied to rows 4 of each sub-block at a rate of 4 g/ m2.
 The drum-drip irrigated block was sub-divided into 3 equal sized sub-blocks (A B
and C). Block A received the original EM treated wheat straw compost (1 kg/ m2),
block B was treated with 200 g/ m2. EM Bokashi whilst block C received 4 g/ m2
inorganic fertilizer (2.3.4 (30) Zn).

All fertilizers were immediately worked into the soils after application, to a depth of
approximately 10 cm. A soil moisture content of approximately 50 percent was
maintained.

Cultivation of Crops

Compost treated plots did not receive any further fertilizer application following
planting. In the case of vegetables cultivated with EM Bokashi, the soil surface of
the plots was covered with a thin layer of wheat straw for moisture retention. All the
EM plots were sprayed once per week, for the first month, with 1:5000 EM:water
solution. Thereafter they were sprayed once every fortnight until cropping.
Chemically fertilized plots received additional concentrations of inorganic fertilizers.
All additional inorganic chemical fertilizer applications commenced two weeks after
planting. In the case of lettuce and spinach, two applications of potassium-
ammonium-nitrate (KAN) were made at a concentration of 20 g/m2, 3 and 6 weeks
following planting. For cabbage, a different fertilizing programme was followed.
Three applications of 1:0:1 (47) were applied during weeks 5,8 and 11 after planting
at a concentration of 15 g/ m2. KAN was applied during weeks 6,9 and 12 at a
concentration of 15 g/m2. No pesticides were applied to any of the crops.

Irrigation of the crops with nutrient-enriched fish pond water took place twice per
week (flood irrigation) and once per day (micro-sprinkler, drip-and drum- drip
irrigation).

Cropping of lettuce commenced 2 months after planting, whilst spinach was

harvested over a period of 1 ½ months following 2 ½ months from planting.
Cropping of cabbage occurred 3 ½ to 4 months after planting. Excess or non-
utilizable leaves of all three vegetable types were excluded during the cropping and
weighing programme. Results were expressed in kg/1 000 m2 cultivated land.

Results Water Chemistry of Fish Pond Water

Water chemistry results of the water used in the various irrigation systems for the
period March to June 1999 in the vegetable crop production, are summarized in
Table 1. Mean water temperatures ranged between 12.8 C (winter) and 20.0 C
(autumn). There was a gradual build-up of dissolved oxygen in the water between
March (6.1 mg/-1) and June (9.2 mg/-1), suggesting a nutrient build-up and
consequent increase in algal activity of pond water, which is also reflected by data
on pH for the consecutive months specially so in June when pH values recorded,
ranged between 7:81 and 10:32. Fluctuations in conductivity can largely be ascribed
to the regular addition of quantities of water from different fish holding tanks. This
also effected the concentrations of ammonia in the water for the different months
which ranged between a mean of 3.17 mg/-1 (April) and 0.48 mg/-1 (June). A similar
pattern was observed for nitrite and nitrate. Soluble reactive phosphorus varied
between a maximum of 8.715 mg/-1 (March) and 5.973 mg/-1 (June). Turbidity of
the water declined towards June.

Table 1. The Quality Conditions of the Irrigation Water from Water

Recirculating Intensive Fish Production Units Used During the
Autumn-Winter Vegetable Production Cycle (March – June 1999)

Consecutive Months (March – June 1999)

Analysis March N=2 April N=4 May N=4 June N=4
Temperature (°C) x 20.0 19.1 15.7 12.8
Range (19.6-20.3) (18.2-20.1) (10.6-19.8) (11.2-14.3)
Dissolved oxygen x 6.1 7.3 7.8 9.2
(mg/l -1) Range (4.8-7.4) (6.1-9.4) (7.1-9.4) (8.2-10.3)
pH Range 6.81-7.34 7.12-9.2 7.42-9.45 7.81-10.32
Conductivity (µ Scm-1) x 137.5 155.5 141.2 126.4
Range (131.2-143.8) (155.0-156.0) (132.1-147.3) (121.4=132.3)
Ammonia (NH3 mg/l -1) x 2.93 3.17 1.52 0.48
Range (2.17-3.68) 1.59-3.77) (0.98-1.79) (0.13-0.72)
Nitrite (NO2mg/l -1) x 0.447 0.822 0.394 0.246
Range (0.315-0.579) (0.425-1.135) (0.185-0.423) ().024-0.278)
Nitrate(NO3 mg/l -1) x 9.4 12.3 5.2 5.4
Range (6.8-12.0) (7.7-13.8) (4.6-6.4) (3.8-5.9)
Orthophosphate x 8.715 6.377 6.435 5.973
(PO4 mg/l -1) Range (6.771-10.659) (5.211-8.490) (4.254-7.950) (5.020-6.135)
Turbidity (NTU) x 45.2 58.6 27.4 18.6
Range (33.0-57.4) (41.6-63.7 (15.1-34.2) 9.0-22.5)

Vegetable Production

Cabbage Production

Results of the cabbage production for the different fertilizer programmes, expressed
in kg/1 000 m2 cultivated land (Table 2) can be summarized as follows. The EM
Bokashi fertilizer programmes for the flood irrigation yielded the highest mean
production of 8733 kg/1 000 m2, which was slightly better than the previous winter
production of 1997 where inorganic chemical fertilizer only was applied. The 1997
production however was clearly superior to the present production using chemical
fertilizers (6963 kg) and organic compost only (6347 kg). Yields obtained for
cabbage for all three fertilized treatments under flood irrigation exceeded the 1996
agricultural average for South Africa.

A similar situation existed at the micro-sprinkler irrigation plots where superior

yields were again obtained with the EM Bokashi treatment (9157 kg) followed by
that of chemical fertilizer with the poorest yields of 6188 kg/1 000 m2 for compost
only. In all three treatments, yields exceeded the cabbage winter production of 1997
as well as the South African agricultural average for 1996.

Of interest was the production of cabbage for the drum drip irrigated plots where a
total production of 12548 kg/1 000 m2 was obtained with chemical fertilizer. Second
best was EM Bokashi (10314 kg) followed by that for compost. Yields for all three
treatments exceeded the winter production for 1997 as well as the South African
average for 1996.
 Table 2. Cabbage Production (Kg/1 000m2) under Drum-drip-, Micro-
sprinkler- and Flood Irrigation Conditions Applying Different
Fertilizing Programmes During Autumn-Winter 1999

Irrigation Parameter Vegetable Production in kg/1 000m2

System Fertilizing Programme
EM Chemical Compost Mean Average
Bokashi Fertilizer Winter Production
Production in South
1997 Africa
(Prinsloo (Coertze,
et.al,2000) 1996)
Flood Number of plots 4 4 4
Plants/1 000m2 2 750 2750 2750
Mean individual
mass(g) 3 175.7 2531.9 2307.9
Total production 8 733 6963 6347 8517 5000
Range (7475-11460) (4659-12116) (5519-7003)

Micro- Number of plots 3 3 1

sprinkler Plants/1 000m2 3000 3000 3000
Mean individual
mass(g) 3052.3 3004.7 2888.3
Total production 9157 9014 8665 5586 5000
Range (8290-9919) (6934-10556) -

Drum-drip Number of plots 2 2 2

Plants/1 000m2 3000 3000 3000
Mean individual
mass(g) 3438.0 4182.6 2888.3
Total production 10314 12548 8665 7267 5000

Spinach Production

The production results of spinach (Table 3) under micro-sprinkler irrigation clearly

suggested that chemical fertilizers were superior to the EM Bokashi and compost
treatments in both the present and for the winter production period of 1997. Yields
for the EM Bokashi treatments came second best for the drip and drum-drip
irrigation systems. Compost was least productive in all cases. However, all three
treatments clearly exceeded the 1996 average spinach production for South Africa.
 Table 3. Spinach Production (Kg/1 000m2) under Drip-, Drum-drip-, and
Micro-sprinkler Irrigation Conditions Applying Different
Fertilizing Programmes During Autumn-Winter 1999

Irrigation Parameter Vegetable Production in kg/1 000m2

System Fertilizing Programme
EM Chemical Compost Mean Average
Bokashi Fertilizer Winter Production
Production in South
1997 Africa
(Prinsloo (Coertze,
et.al,1999) 1996)
Micro- Number of plots 4 4 2
sprinkler Plants/1 000m2 6000 6000 6000
Total production 1542 3118 2387 5947 1200
Range (1364-1718) (2394-3640) (1671-3094)

Drip Number of plots 3 1 1

Plants/1 000m2 4200 4200 4200
Total production 3433 3071 3064 3751 1200
Range (3350-3515)

Drum-drip Number of plots 2 2 2

Plants/1 000m2 4000 4000 4000
Total production 2253 2255 1721 1732 1200

Lettuce Production

All three treatments for lettuce production (Table 4) exceeded the 1997 as well as the
1996 agricultural average for South Africa, with EM being superior for the flood –
and drum-drip irrigated plots and chemical fertilizer providing the highest yields in
the case of drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation systems.
 Table 4. Lettuce Production (Kg/1 000m2) under Drip-, Drum-drip-,
Micro-sprinkler and Flood Irrigation Conditions Applying
Different Fertilizing Programmes During Autumn-Winter 1999

Irrigation Parameter Vegetable Production in kg/1 000m2

System Fertilizing Programme
EM Chemical Compost Mean Average
Bokashi Fertilizer Winter Production
Production in South
1997 Africa
(Prinsloo (Coertze,
et.al,2000) 1996)
Flood Number of plots 5 5 5
Plants/1 000m2 6700 6700 6700
Mean individual
mass(g) 1303.4 1094.3 1047.8
Total production 8733 7332 7020 4294 1500
Range (7717-9425) (7092-7553) (6326-7609)

Micro- Number of plots 4 4 2

sprinkler Plants/1 000m2 7400 7400 7400
Mean individual
mass(g) 1378.6 1569.7 1466.7
Total production 10202 11616 10854
Range (9437-11375) (11385-11792) (9512-12198)

Drip Number of plots 3 1 1

Plants/1 000m2 6000 6000 6000
Mean individual
mass(g) 1509.9 1714.9 1296.6
Total production 9059 10289 7780 2260 1500
Range (8999-9119)

Drum-drip Number of plots 2 2 2

Plants/1 000m2 7000 7000 7000
Mean individual
mass(g) 1536.2 1506.7 1272.8 2500 1500
Total production 10.753 10547 8910

Discussion After more than 20 years during which aquaculture has been researched in South
Africa, not only for its application in commercial ventures, but also as a viable
alternative for sustainable food production in rural areas where malnutrition can be
alleviated, the following objectives have been achieved:

• Artificial propagation for candidate fish species have been successfully

applied (Prinsloo and Schoonbee, 1983; Schoonbee and Prinsloo, 1984;
1986; Prinsloo et al., 1987; Prinsloo et al., 1993; Schoonbee et al., 1980;
Schoonbee and Brand, 1982; Necht et al., 1982).

• Alternative diets to replace expensive formulated fish feed were developed,

evaluated and applied (Prinsloo et al., 1989; Hoffman et al., 1997).
• Mono and polyculture fish production under regional environmental and
water quality conditions were researched and practically implemented
(Prinsloo and Schoonbee, 1986; 1992; Schoonbee and Prinsloo, 1988; 1989;
Prinsloo et al., 1999d).

• With the scarcity of available water for agriculture, particularly so in rural

areas, integrated aquaculture-agriculture food production systems (poultry,
fish vegetables and other crops) aimed at the multipurpose low cost
utilization of available water resources, was developed (Prinsloo and
Schoonbee, 1987 a; Prinsloo et al., 1999 a,b).

EM Technology was introduced in 1997 from Japan into South Africa by Mr.
Yoshida (EMROSA, South Africa). During October 1998, small scale application of
EM on vegetable crops commenced at the Aquaculture Research Unit, University of
the North, as part of an integrated aquaculture-agriculture project which included
poultry-cum-fish-cum-vegetable crop production. Although the major thrust was
aimed at food production on a family and community base in rural areas of South
Africa, its commercial potential was also investigated. In such integrated systems,
there are a number of aspects where EM Technology can not only replace or improve
the existing approach but may also contribute significantly to fish pond water quality
conditions and health status of fish and soils where vegetable crops are produced
(Hanekon et al., 2000 – submitted).

In this particular investigation, which must be considered of an exploratory nature,

into the beneficial use of EM in vegetable crop production using nutrient-enriched
waste water from fish ponds, the application of EM Boksahi, organic compost and
inorganic chemical fertilizers, were evaluated and compared. The present results
already confirm in more than one way the advantages of EM Bokashi in the superior
production of leaved vegetables compared to the application of compost only or
where inorganic chemical fertilizers were used as a standard practice. Even after a
relatively short period following the incorporation of EM as soil nutrient releasing
agent (2 months) yields for cabbage, spinach and lettuce increased significantly in
comparison with the recorded South African agricultural average for these crops. At
this stage, it was not surprising to find that inorganic fertilizer still produces yields
which were satisfactory in terms of its crop growth potential. However, based on the
present results already obtained, EM will most likely be the nutrient growth factor of
choice in this component of integrated aquaculture-agriculture food production
schemes. Even where EM performed second best (lettuce – drip irrigation – Table 4)
or third (micro-sprinkler irrigation) in the present series of crop production, factors
such as methods of water application, soil quality and chemical conditions, together
with the build-up of EM treated organic material, may rectify the situation in the
medium to long-term.

It must be borne in mind, that the soils of the land at the ARU are of a sandy loam
nature with a clay and sand content of 11 percent and 68 percent, respectively. Its
hydraulic conductivity is classified as very rapid (Tazanov et al., 1999 – unpublished
report). Despite the fact that the fish pond irrigation water used, remained
predominantly alkaline, fluctuating between 6.8 – 10.3, the water did not appear to
have any significant effects on the soil –pH which fluctuated between 5.5 – 7.0. The
fact that elevated pH levels in the sandy soils already exceeded limits for optimal
crop production in both the flood – and micro-sprinkler plots suggested that the long
 term continuous use of nutrient-enriched water on these soils needs to be monitored.
The introduction of EM treated organic material may rectify this problem.

From the literature it is clear that soil-pH can be manipulated through the application
of EM Bokashi through the offset of degradative processes in the soils (Parr et al.,
1992; Hornick and Parr, 1987). One important factor which must also be considered
with the application of EM Technology, is the natural fertility of soils and as
mentioned, the quality of the irrigation water which both tend to decline with the use
of chemical fertilizers and the introduction of pesticides in crop pest control. Both
factors exert a marked effect largely on the natural fauna and flora of soils (Wicherek
and Bossien, 1998).

A measure of the soil microbial activity can be taken to assess the health status of
agricultural land. Such a health control index system should be developed in South
Africa with the introduction of EM (Jenkinson and Ladd, 1981; Maire, 1987;
Tabatabai, 1982).

Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the University of North for facilities provided and
financial support which made this investigation possible. Out sincere thanks
to Mr. A.T.J. Scholtz (Senior Technician, ARU) and the technical team for
their consistent hard work. Mr. J. Turner for editorial comments and Ms. N.
Harris for the typing of the manuscript.

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