Harvest is when farmers reap the reward of a well-nodulated legume crop, and can see the result of the inoculant first used during seeding. Unfortunately, there are times when adequate nodulation does not occur, even when an inoculant has been used. Listed below are several reasons as to why this might happen: soil pH: rhizobia […]
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Nitrogen is the nutrient most heavily used by legumes. It is important that the plants have a readily available supply if they are to reach their yield potential. Soils on their own will rarely have the nitrogen levels needed to meet crop demands, leaving growers with two options to ensure an adequate supply: fertilizer application […]
Read MoreMany Midwest farmers choose not to use an inoculant for their soybeans. They feel, due to the high number of nitrogen fixing bacteria already in the soil, that inoculating offers little benefit. However, after the record-setting drought of 2012, they may want to reconsider. Jim Beuerlein and Harold Watters, agronomists with the Ohio State University, […]
Read MoreLegumes can supply their own nitrogen, provided that appropriate species of Rhizobium bacteria are present. This allows legumes to produce greater yields without additional nitrogen and also helps succeeding crops in the rotation. Checking root nodules for nitrogen fixation is a straight forward process: Wait 4-6 weeks after planting. It takes this long for nodules […]
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