5 Situations that Call for Inoculant

Inoculants and seed treatment. They go together like boots and blue jeans. Learn all about inoculants, and when and why you should use them.

WHAT ARE INOCULANTS?

Inoculants are a type of added bacteria called rhizobia that “infect” plant seeds—in a good way. These bacteria use the plant to draw nitrogen from the air, then convert and store the nitrogen in the plant’s roots. As a result, nitrogen-packed nodules form, turning your plant into a nutrient-rich powerhouse.

With higher numbers of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia:

• Every soybean planted can fully yield.

• Yields are improved in challenged areas.

• Full-field yield averages increase.

Below are 5 circumstances when inoculating your seed is not only advisable, but likely necessary.

1. Inoculate when planting on wet or flooded soil.

Rhizobium is an aerobic micro-organism, which means it needs oxygen to survive. When these rhizobium populations are completely shut off from available oxygen for an extended period of time—like during 2-3 days of flooding—they die off very rapidly. In recent years, flooding plagued the country, and likely killed countless populations of rhizobium. 

With the right inoculant applied to your seeds before planting, they’ll be coated in billions of active rhizobium—allowing for maximum nodulation and nitrogen fixation.

To learn how to choose the right inoculant, call 888-402-4787 or click below.

2. Inoculate when planting on sandy soil.

Floods drown the bacteria. And droughts suffocate it. Sandy soil and soil where drought occurred can also lower rhizobium populations. But with fresh, plentiful, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, inoculants can power up your seeds turn your and fields into nutrient-rich ground.

3. Inoculate when planting on virgin soil.

Environmental factors like floods and droughts are sure to negatively impact the survival of bacteria. Same with virgin soil too. If you have no previous history of soybeans grown on your field, or if you plant in longer crop rotations, bacteria populations may be sparse. Fewer bacteria means lower chances of nitrogen fixation. 

If it’s been more than 3-5 years since you last planted soybeans on the soil, inoculating with fresh rhizobium bacteria will assure high numbers for the benefit of the plant.

4. Inoculate when soil pH levels are extremely high or low.

Non-optimal soil pH can also decrease nodulation, nitrogen fixation and the survival of rhizobia. Ideal soil pH levels for soybeans are between 6.0 and 7.0. A 6.3 to 6.5 range is optimal to maximize nutrient availability and nitrogen fixation—while minimizing soybean cyst nematode population growth. When soil pH levels fall below 6.0, the plant’s root hairs are affected, making it harder for nitrogen nodules to form. High soil pH and salinity also negatively impact the survival of bacteria.

Inoculants like Exceed SAR contains 10 billion active Bradyrhizobium japonicum per milliliter—much, much higher than most inoculants on the market. This surplus of bacteria maximizes nodulation. Plus, Exceed SAR disrupts the life cycle of nematodes too, which can alter the effects the nematode has on young soybean plants.

5. Inoculate when you want to boost yields.

It’s as simple as that.

Learn more about inoculants here. And to place your order for the upcoming season, contact your UAS rep today or call 888-402-4787.