Seed pelleting to improve nodulation of tropical and subtropical legumes. 5. The contrasting response to lime pelleting of two Rhizobium strains on Leucaena leucocephala

Abstract

In a field experiment at Samford, Queensland, on a loam of pH 5.0 (water), nodulation of Leucaena leucocephala was compared after inoculation with two contrasting types of Rhizobium. Peat culture of each was applied to the seed in three ways: using 2 per cent and 4 per cent methyl cellulose (m.c.) sticker and 4 per cent m.c, with a lime coating. Inoculated seed was sown after storage for one and 28 days. After one day storage the acid-producing strain NGR8 formed nodules only when the seed was pelleted with lime, but the alkali-producing strain CB81 nodulated equally well by all three inoculation procedures. After 28 day storage strain CB81 did not survive on the seed when applied simply with sticker, but survived as well as strain NGR8 when lime-pelleted. It is suggested that where leucaena is to be established on acid soils, CB81 or a rhizobial strain of similar type be used and that the seed be always lime-pelleted.