Liquid Rhizobial Inoculants for Lentil and Field Pea

Abstract

Traditional peat legume inoculants are viewed by western Canadian farmers as being difficult to apply. A liquid inoculant was developed and its feasibility as a carrier for Rhizobium leguminosarum bv vicieae strains 99A1 and 128C56G for lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.), respectively, was examined. The population of the strains exceeded 33.8 x 10 6 /oz (10 8 /mL) for 9 mo when held at 41°F and stored in a warehouse with temperatures between 41 and 70°F. One and 8 mo-old inoculant stored as previously described nodulated their host crop. Studies using commercial scale farm equipment determined that the liquid inoculant gave a very uniform coverage of the seeds when applied through a grain auger and that the inoculated seeds flowed well when planted using various types of seeding equipment. Pea producer trials in Saskatchewan showed that the liquid inoculant was much easier to apply than the peat inoculant and that the yield of field pea was similar with either inoculant. Research plot field trials in Saskatchewan and Alberta showed that the liquid inoculant for pea and lentil resulted in yields equal to or better than those observed for the peat inoculant and that proper inoculation gave yield increases of lentil cv Laird and field pea cv Radley and Express of 546 (29%) and 303 (9%) Ib/acre, respectively over the uninoculated control.