Optimising legume inoculation for dry sowing

2018

Research organisatons
Funding sources
<abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr> South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT)

Trial details

Researcher(s) Liz Farquharson
Year(s) 2018
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa, SA
Optimising legume inoculation for dry sowing locations
Aims

To assess a range of commercial rhizobia inoculant products, application strategies and sowing times to provide growers with recommendations that ensures adequate nodulation and nitrogen fixation in dry sown crops.

 

Key messages
  • Standard inoculation practices are unlikely to deliver satisfactory nodulation where pulses are sown into dry soils.
  • Pea and chickpea sown late (26 June) had the higher nodulation and crop production than those sown dry. Where the soil remained dry for 20 days after sowing nodulation was poor, regardless of the inoculation strategy used.
  • Nodulation of pea was low regardless of sowing time at Minnipa in 2018. Both peat applied to seed and granule formulations resulted in similar nodule numbers per plant.
  • Nodulation can be improved when dry sowing if inoculation rate of peat is increased. Doubling the rate of inoculation significantly improved pea nodulation. 
  • The performance the rhizobial granules was inconsistent. A granule produced at SARDI was more effective in one experiment, but not the other. Two commercial granules provided no advantage compared to peat applied to seed.
Lead research organisation South Australian Research and Development Institute
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC 9176500
Trial funding source South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) S716
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This research is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and the support of SAGIT (project S716) and GRDC (project 9176500). The authors would like to thank them for their continued support. A special thank you to Bruce Heddle and family for hosting our trials in 2018.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Other: Break crops
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Seed treatment: Inoculant
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Minnipa 2018

Sowing machinery

Two replicated trials were sown on a sandy soil of pHCaCl2 7.8 on the property of Bruce Heddle’s at Minnipa on Eyre Peninsula. Previous soil tests had indicated the site was likely to be responsive to inoculation for field pea and chickpea, due to the absence of suitable rhizobia in the soil.

Trial 1: Peat v granule at different sowing times

One of the difficulties of comparing commercial granule products is that they are manufactured using various substrates (often not peat based), which can make the comparison and interpretation of their performance difficult. To enable a valid comparison of the delivery platform (rhizobia in a granule vs. rhizobia in a peat applied to seed) we made moist peat and peat granule inoculants at SARDI for both chickpea and field pea in 2018. Both contained high numbers of their corresponding rhizobia.

 

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Sow date 13 April 2018 Trial 1: 3 x TOS 13 April, 26 April and 26 June Trial 2: 26 April 2018
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 12m x 1.7m
Plot replication 4
Inoculant See article
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Minnipa, SA 0 - 10cm 7.80
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa, SA Red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa, SA Calcarosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Minnipa SA
2018 293.5mm
2017 323.8mm
2016 315.3mm
2015 289.3mm
2014 336.5mm
2013 290.8mm
2012 330.8mm
2011 383.4mm
2010 385.3mm
2009 391.3mm
2008 330.4mm
2007 331.2mm
2006 334.5mm
2005 288.0mm
2004 296.1mm
2003 293.2mm
2002 283.3mm
2001 343.9mm
2000 389.0mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Minnipa SA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 325mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 242mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 244mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 178mm

Derived climate information

Minnipa SA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2018 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 14:18pm AEST