Follow the ‘Do’ list to achieve healthy soybeans The result of poor inoculation in a peanut crop due to nozzle blockage Agri-Science Queensland

A well-inoculated peanut crop Good root nodulation

Plant yields from poorly inoculated plants (left) and well-inoculated plants (right)

If you don’t follow the ‘Do’ list, the inoculant may fail and Department of Employment, Development Economic Innovation and result in a poor soybean crop Rhizobium inoculation Get the best from your legume crop

More information For more information, call the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation on 13 25 23 or visit www.deedi.qld.gov.au Poor root nodulation The following people contributed to the information presented in this brochure: Rao CN Rachaputi (ACIAR-SMAR 2007/068 Enhancing productivity and profitability of tropical pulses in Indonesia and Australia) Neil Halpin, Nikki Seymour and Mike Bell (GRDC DAQ 00129 Improving the integration of legumes in grain and sugarcane farming systems) Tomorrow’s Queensland: strong, green, smart, healthy and fair PR10_5221 What is rhizobium? Do Don’t Do Don’t Rhizobium bacteria are beneficial soil bacteria that enable legumes to use or ‘fix’ atmospheric Use the right inoculant Don’t use cowpea Supply adequate Don’t under supply nitrogen for plant growth. Each species of legume for the crop (e.g. use inoculant (Group I) on inoculant, especially if inoculant. has a specific strain of rhizobium that it needs for Group P for peanuts and soybeans. the paddock has never Group H for soybeans). grown a particular this process. To ensure adequate plant growth, it is legume before. important to inoculate legume seed at planting with Check the expiry date on Don’t use out-of-date Remember that at least the correct strain of rhizobium. the packet. stock. 1 000 000 live bacteria per seed are required for effective nodulation. This Why is it important? is achieved by following the manufacturer’s Grain legumes are quickly becoming part of the recommendations. sugarcane farming system, not only due to their own high market value but also because of the significant rotation benefits they offer to a sugarcane crop. Ensure that the inoculant Don’t leave the inoculant is stored below 12o C. in the sun. One of the important roles performed by grain Keep it cool and fresh in Don’t freeze the inoculant legume break crops is to fix enough nitrogen from an esky. as that will cause cell the atmosphere for its own use, as well as leaving rupture on thawing. some residual nitrogen behind for the subsequent cane crop. Check soil pH—apply Don’t expect the lime if it is less than 5.5. inoculant to work well in Well-coated seeds Poorly treated seed A well-inoculated crop of soybeans or peanuts can acid soils. contain 300 kg of nitrogen, and the crop residue Use a minimum of 100 L Don’t leave the water Ensure there is adequate Don’t skimp on getting of water per hectare ‘nurse tank’ in the sun after harvest (including below ground parts) soil nutrition, particularly the paddock soil tested when water injecting. as that can increase the leaves about 120 kg of nitrogen per hectare for the phosphorus, sulphur and pre-plant. Ensure that you have temperature of water and following cane crop. At the current price of $680/t molybdenum. Consult adequate filtration so kill the bacteria. your agronomist for that nozzles don’t block. of urea (as of June 2010), this represents a cost advice on soil test results. reduction of $236/ha. Ensure intimate contact Don’t separate the If applying inoculum Don’t add liquid between the inoculant inoculant from the seed. The 4200 ha of grain legumes in the Wide Bay using water injection, fertilisers to water and seed. The rhizobia district in the 2008–09 season represented a drop check the pH level of injection solution, have to penetrate the the water and adjust it especially zinc and root within 24–72 hours. in nitrogen input of 1176 t compared to a sugarcane- so it is close to 7 where sodium molybdate as only farming situation, which amounts to a saving of necessary. Use rain these solutions will kill Sow the seed within 6 Don’t leave treated seed $800 000 for coastal farms. water if possible. the bacteria. hours after treatment. If lying around for several applying inoculant to the days prior to planting. Plant into adequate soil Don’t plant and apply seed (as a peat slurry), How can I get the best results? moisture. inoculum in dry soil. Dry sow as soon as possible soil reduces bacteria after treatment. Legumes need the correct strain of rhizobium to make survival. functional nodules on roots and to fix the atmospheric Physically separate Don’t place fertiliser in nitrogen. The rhizobium inoculant has to be handled the fertiliser from the the same furrow as the seed and rhizobium. seed and rhizobium. correctly to get the best performance from your Rhizobium is much more legume crop. Remember, rhizobium is living bacteria sensitive to the fertiliser and needs to be well looked after. The following table ‘salt effect’ than seeds and seedlings. describes the most important ‘dos and don’ts’.