Rhizobial counts in peat inoculants vary amongst legume inoculant groups at manufacture and with storage: implications for quality standards

Author(s)
Herridge, David
Hartley, Elizabeth
Gemell, L Greg
Publication Date
2014
Abstract
Background and aims: Inoculation of legumes at sowing with rhizobia has arguably been one of the most cost-effective practices in modern agriculture. Critical aspects of inoculant quality are rhizobial counts at manufacture/registration and shelf (product) life. Methods: In order to re-evaluate the Australian standards for peat-based inoculants, we assessed numbers of rhizobia (rhizobial counts) and presence of contaminants in 1,234 individual packets of peat-based inoculants from 13 different inoculant groups that were either freshly manufactured or had been stored at 4 °C for up to 38 months to determine (a) rates of decline of rhizobial populations, and (b) effects of presence of contaminants on rhizobial populations. We also assessed effects of inoculant age on survival of the rhizobia during and immediately after inoculation of polyethylene beads.
Citation
Plant and Soil, 380(1-2), p. 327-336
ISSN
1573-5036
0032-079X
Link
Language
en
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Title
Rhizobial counts in peat inoculants vary amongst legume inoculant groups at manufacture and with storage: implications for quality standards
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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