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Legume Seed Inoculation

Categories: Vegetable Growing

Is there any virtue in inoculating plants with the bacteria that some

seed firms offer? I refer to such plants as peas and beans.



If the land is yielding good crops of these plants and the roots are

noduled, it does not need addition of germs. If the growth is scant even

when there is enough moisture present and the roots are free from

nodules, the presumption is that germs should be added. Speaking

gener
lly, added germs are not needed in California because our great

legume crops are made without inoculation. Presumably, burr clover and

our host of native legumes have already charged the soil with them. If,

however, such plants do not do well, try inoculation by all means, to

see if absence of germs is the reason for such failure or whether you

must look for some other reason. If the results are satisfactory, you

may have made a great gain by introduction of desirable soil organisms

which you can extend as you like by the distribution of the germ-laden

soil from the areas which have been given that character by inoculation

of the seed.



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