this is something i have just started to experiment with !
I recieved a PACK OF THIS STUFF with an order of RED CLOVER im also experimenting with for phytoestrogens......... So i will use it on a few seeds ive got !AM.
Rhizobium
inoculate seed before planting?
inoculated with the proper Rhizobium bacteria. (black chalky looking shit )
Inoculation is easy and inexpensive and provides good assurance that plants will fix nitrogen. EXPLANATION:
IE:seeds can be inoculated with live rhizobium bacteria (Rhizobium meliloti), . The only time producers do not need to inoculate is when planting preinoculated seed before its expiration date.
In some fields with recent histories of alfalfa or sweetclover, alfalfa may not benefit from inoculation, but it is difficult to identify those fields before planting. After emergence, inoculation is risky, difficult, and expensive.
Many strains of rhizobia are present in soil, and some may form nodules on alfalfa roots, but not all nodules fix nitrogen. Effective N-fixing nodules on alfalfa are generally pink to deep red on the inside and can fix several hundred pounds of nitrogen per acre each season.
Specific rhizobium bacteria for alfalfa assure effective nitrogen fixation by new stands. Together they convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form available to plants if effective nodules are present. Nodules are the result of an infection by an effective strain of bacteria (Rhizobium meliloti).
Inoculating alfalfa seed: Inoculation is nothing more than mixing bacteria with the seed before planting. Dry inoculant can be mixed with seed, but it is difficult to assure good mixing and to avoid much of the inoculant from falling on the ground some distance from the seed. Certain brands of alfalfa seed are pre-inoculated (with or without lime coating) and do not need additional inoculant.
Stickers help nodule forming bacteria adhere to seed. Excellent commercial preparations of stickers and rhizobium are available from inoculant manufacturers. For best results, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
An alternative to commercial stickers is to use milk or a water-based solution containing 10 to 20 % table syrup or sugar. One pint of the sticky mixture provides sufficient sticker for a bushel of seed. Moisten all seeds (in a concrete mixer, if possible), then add the inoculant. If the mixture is too moist, add more inoculant, finely ground limestone, or powdery dry soil.
Shelf life of inoculants: Expiration dates appear on inoculant packets and pre-inoculated seed bags. The date indicates when most of the bacteria will have died under normal storage conditions. Properly inoculated seeds have thousands of bacteria per seed; however, only one bacterium is needed to infest a seedling's root. Bacteria on seed in hot soil die, a few at a time. Nevertheless, even after 2 or 3 weeks, there are usually enough live bacteria remaining to be effective.
Heat, direct sunlight, and drying are all detrimental to the survival of rhizobia. For this reason, it is important to store inoculant packets in a cool place (refrigerate if possible). Even with the large amounts of rhizobia initially applied, many bacteria may die during prolonged storage.
If there are questions about the viability of bacteria on inoculated seed due to the length of storage or storage conditions, then seed should be reinoculated. Do not use water to moisten lime-coated seed. Fresh inoculant can be applied with mineral oil as a sticker. About 1/2 ounce of mineral oil per pound of seed is sufficient.
Cost/benefit of inoculation: Inoculant is normally included with the higher priced seed. Cost for preinoculated seed is 5 to 10¢/lb more than comparable raw seed. Inoculant costs about $1/A, if applied by the producer.
All legumes (including alfalfa) can establish and survive without nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but plants cannot fix nitrogen. This means that without added nitrogen, plants will have a yellowish appearance and yields will be low. With high rates of nitrogen fertilizer application, uninoculated stands can be productive.
If nitrogen fertilizer is applied to alfalfa for normal growth and quality, 200 - 400 lb. actual N/A would be required, costing $50 - $200/A. Since inoculation is easy and cheap, it is probably the best insurance farmers can buy.
can i use it at any time ??
there is at least one commercial bacterial preparation that can be mixed with water and sprayed on plants to improve inoculation with rhizobia.
During dry or cold (below 500 F) soil conditions, rhizobia may not grow and multiply normally. Slow growth of rhizobia is also caused by acid or infertile soil. If fertilizer and lime were not applied according to soil tests, the materials should be applied as soon as possible and may alleviate the problem with poor inoculation.
The cost and effectiveness of inoculation after planting is highly variable because of the array of conditions that can cause poor inoculation. Rhizobia must come in contact with root hairs before they dry out or they will not be effective; consequently, weather conditions are critical for this application.
http://alfalfa.okstate.edu/pub/stand-949/seed.htm
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