Non-sterile inoculant in lupin crop
Non-sterile inoculant in lupin crop
HALF the UK lupin crop is inoculated with sub-standard material from eastern Germany that uses a non-sterile, less effective carrier, claims MicroBio.
A non-sterile carrier introduces toxins which can destroy the rhizobium bacterial inoculant, warns the firms Paul Williams.
Independent trials on soya point to a 12% yield loss from using one rather than a sterile base. "Lupins would show similar increases," says Mr Williams.
In recent lupin research comparing treatments at IACR-Rothamsted, inoculant in a sterile peat carrier raised yield by nearly 40%, from 2.4t/ha to 3.3t/ha. Protein content was lifted 1.5% to 39.5%.
Lupins need a particular strain of rhizobium to produce nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Seed inoculation is required because soils do not normally contain it. Applied as a dust by growers, it costs about £13/ha. *