Legumes inoculation

What Npt to Expect from the Practice of Legume Inoculation. 

Gault, R. R., and Brockwell, J. (1980). Studies on seed pelleting as an aid to legume inoculation. 5. Effects of incorporation of molybdenum compounds in the seed pellet on inoculant survival, seedling nodulation and plant growth of leucerne and subterranean clover. 

The usual legume inoculant now in use consists of finely-ground neutral sedge peat to which the bacteria have been added from liquid cultures. Years of research have shown that peat is an ideal medium in which to keep the bacteria in good viable condition for several months under commercial handling conditions. 

P. W. Singleton, B. B. Bolhool, and P. L. Nakao, Legume rhizobia inoculation in the tropics myths and realities. Myths and Science of Soils in the Tropics, ASA, SSSA Special publication no. 29, Madison, WI, USA, 1992. 

In summary, although the tools for introducing the hup system in any strain of rhi-zobia in a stable form are now available, more research is needed to achieve an efficient expression of the hup system in the different legume hosts and to evaluate their effect on legume productivity before succeeding in obtaining marketable, improved inoculant strains. 

Some allelochemicals have been shown to be bound by the humic material in the soil and presumably inactivated (90). When known amounts of tannic acid were added to a prairie soil that contained no tannic acid, a minimum of WQ ppm had to be added before any could be recovered immediately. It is noteworthy, therefore, that as small a concentration as 30 ppm added to the same soil reduced the nodule number of heavily inoculated legumes growing in the soil. Obviously, some of the bound tannic acid remained biologically active (91). 

Inoculation with specific strains of rhizobium bacteria stimulates nodulation on leguminous forbs, Commercial inoculants are available for the important legume species. Rhizobium bacteria may not survive or produce effective nodules in acidic spoils with pH below 5.0. 

Allen and Allen (1981) have described the little that is known about the introduction of legume species into agriculture and the role of inoculation in this process. For example, alfalfa (the hay of the Medes), Medicago sativa, was taken by the Spanish from the Middle east into South and Central America, from which point it spread to the north without, one presumes, deliberate use of soil inoculation. None of its cross inoculation group (species of Medicago, Melilotus or Trigonella) occur in the New World. Soyabean was introduced into America from Asia much later, and today both crops are routinely inoculated. 

The case history of sub-clover (Trifolium subterranean) as an important pasture legume is of special interest, as an involuntary migrant from the Northern to the Southern hemisphere, the phenomenal success of which depended on inoculation. 

Prevention and Control The relationship of legumes and these bacteria (Rhizobium spp.) is generally beneficial to both. Plants supply bacteria with nutrients bacteria convert nitrogen from the air into a form that plants can use. To promote growth of these beneficial organisms, buy the bacteria in powder form (called inoculant) and dust the seeds of appropriate crops before planting. Certain species work better with particular plants, so buy the right inoculant for your crop. 

Fio. 3.—An alfalfa seedling 28 days old, showing how nodule production is accomplished early in the plant s growth in wall inoculated soil. The importance of early nodule formation by legume plants grown in average soils cannot be overemphasised, as those crops need more nitrogen than other crops and depend upon the bacteria of the nodules for it. 

There are several methods of inoculating legumes with bacteria, description of four important methods follows ... 

The Sand Method. Sand is prepared in the laboratory and inoculated heavily with legume bacteria. This is then mixed with the seed at the time of sowing. This method has been largely discontinued. 

However, the art of preparing vigorous cultures has been developed and more recently splendid results are reported from their use. Much of the present disappointment in the use of legume culture comes from other factors than the fact that the soil has not been made fit as to physical and chemical conditions. One of the best forms in which legume cultures are shipped for use by farmers is the jelly culture, contained in a hat bottle. These cultures are usually sent out at a retail price of 26 cents to 40 cents for sufficient culture to inoculate the seed used in planting one acre of any particular legume. 

Note.—With large legume BeedB, such as peas and beans, sowing may be done directly after inoculation. Drying is not necessary with these seeds. 

Note.—If convenient bow Borne Beed without inoculation and see by comparison if the bacteria improve legumes on your soil. 

Most legume seeds are inoculated with the appropriate Rhizobium species to ensure that nodulation will occur. Seed treatment with soluble sources of Mo may decrease the effectiveness of the inoculum because of salt effects. Therefore, some suggest the use of... 

K. J. Prakash, N. Suresh, and C. R. Babu, Development of an inexpensive legume-Rhizobium inoculation technology which may be used in aerial seeding. Journal of Basic Microbiology 34 231-243, 2007. 

The inoculation of the seeds of legumes at the time of planting or shortly before is a generally recommended procedure under the following conditions (1) when the legume has not been grown on the soil previously, or at least not recently (2) when there is... 

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