Effective microorganisms and compost favor nematodes in wheat crops

Excessive application of mineral fertilizers wastes resources and contaminates the environment. Alternative natural substitutes could solve those issues. Here, we hypothesize that organic compost may increase soil biological fertility more effectively than mineral fertilizers, and that effective microorganisms could improve the effects of traditional compost. So far, few investigations have analyzed the effects of the effective microorganisms on soil fauna such as nematodes. A 1997–2004 field experiment of soil fertility and crop yield has been carried out at China Agricultural University’s Qu-Zhou experimental station. A randomized block experiment comprised effective microorganisms, compost, traditional compost, N and P fertilizer treatment, and untreated controls. Soil nematode community structure and wheat yields were analyzed during wheat growth stages. Results show that in May the total nematode number is 43.21 % higher for effective microorganisms compost plots compared with traditional compost plots. Soil free-living nematodes are 29.32 % more abundant and bacteria-feeding nematodes are 63.23 % more abundant for effective microorganisms compost plots compared with traditional compost plots in June. Wheat grain yield is correlated with soil free-living nematodes during the jointing stage of wheat growth, with a correlation coefficient R 2 of 0.88.