Legume growers, do you need to be bothered by inoculating your legume crops? That’s exactly the question we would like to address in this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities.
Legume crops are often referred to as “nitrogen (N) fixers,” but the reality is that they themselves do not perform the actual nitrogen fixation process (1). Rather, the credit goes to the bacteria with which they form symbiotic relationships, Rhizobium (1). These microorganisms, which are naturally present in the soil, play a crucial role in converting atmospheric N into a form that plants can use for growth. Although the legume plant provides carbohydrates and energy to the bacteria in exchange, it is the Rhizobia that are responsible for the conversion of N into a usable form, this process is called symbiosis (2).
Then why inoculate? Inoculating legume crops with Rhizobia bacteria ensures that an adequate number of viable, N-fixing bacteria are present in the soil (3). This is particularly important in soils that have undergone degradation through factors such as severe erosion, standing water, extreme temperatures (including subzero conditions), or poor crop rotation practices (4). When these factors take a toll on soil health, they can significantly reduce the population of viable Rhizobia, making it difficult for legume crops to access sufficient nitrogen (4). Without proper inoculation, legume crops may struggle to obtain the N they need for optimal growth and development, thereby limiting their potential yield (5). In certain cases, the use of N-fixing legumes with rhizobia can reduce N fertilizer needs by 30%. This means farmers could save a substantial portion of their N fertilizer costs (6).
This symbiotic relationship enables the legume to access a steady and continuous supply of N, ensuring healthy growth and improving the efficiency of nutrient uptake. Moreover, the nitrogen fixation process facilitated by Rhizobia also offers significant benefits to the soil itself (4). As Rhizobia fix N, they enrich the soil with organic N, which remains available for subsequent crops (4). This process is essential for maintaining long-term soil fertility. The mutually beneficial relationship between legumes and Rhizobia creates a virtuous cycle, where legumes improve soil quality, which in turn supports the growth of future crops (5).
Synthetic fertilizers, although provide immediate access to N, are not involved in a biological process, and a huge amount of energy is needed to produce fertilizer N (7). Instead, they are a chemical input that, when overused, can harm the environment and degrade soil health. Increasing synthetic N to legume crops increases runoff pollution, and damages soil structure over time by increasing acidic conditions (7).
Inoculating legume crops such as soybeans, peas or lentils with Rhizobia is not only an environmentally sustainable practice but also a cost-effective one (3). By reducing the need for synthetic N fertilizers, farmers can lower their input costs (3). Furthermore, the increased efficiency of N uptake in inoculated legumes means that farmers can achieve optimum crops without the need for excessive fertilizer applications (3).
Therefore, the role of inoculant companies such as XiteBio could be crucial. XiteBio’s premium liquid legume inoculants XiteBio® SoyRhizo® for soybeans and XiteBio® PulseRhizo® for peas, lentils and faba beans not only contain N fixing Rhizobia, but also contain our unique formulation technology (AGPT ®) that stimulates and galvanizes native microflora (8).
If you would like to learn more about bioinoculants’ impact on soil fertility or receive information on any of our inoculant products, please contact one of our sales agronomists or give us a call at 1-855-XITEBIO. Until next time we wish you healthier plants and better yields.
References:
- Kiers, E. T., et al. (2007). “Symbiosis: The Influence of Rhizobia on Legume Growth and Nitrogen Fixation.” Field Crops Research, 103(1), 19-27.
- https://alseed.com/should-you-inoculate-your-legumes/
- Tilman, D., et al. (2002). “Agricultural Sustainability and Intensive Production Practices.” Nature, 418(6898), 671-67
- Graham, P. H., & Vance, C. P. (2000). “Legumes: Importance and Constraints to Greater Use.” Plant Physiology, 124(3), 10-20.
- https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/crops-and-irrigation/soils-fertility-and-nutrients/inoculation-of-pulse-crops#:~:text=However%2C%20bacteria%20that%20survive%20in,they%20plant%20a%20pulse%20crop.
- https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20163288844?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Herridge, D. F., et al. (2008). “The Contribution of Nitrogen Fixation to the Productivity of Legumes.” Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 59(9), 746-755.
- https://xitebio.ca/sustainable-technologies/