Inoculation technology for legumes based on alginate encapsulation

E.N. Shcherbakova¹*, A.V. Shcherbakov¹, P.Yu. Rots², L.N. Gonchar³, S.A. Mulina¹, L.M. Yahina¹, Yu.V. Lactionov¹ and V.K. Chebotar¹

¹All-Russia research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Shosse Podbelskogo 3, RU196608 Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia
²Biocad Biotechnology Company, Sviazi street 34, Strelna, RU198515 St. Petersburg,
Russia
³National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Plant Science Department, Heroyiv Oborony street 15, UA03041 Kyiv, Ukraine
*Correspondence: alonagonchar@mail.ru

Abstract:

The main purpose of seeds inoculation is to provide the sufficient number of viable efficient bacteria that are able to actively colonize the plant roots immediately after germination. One of the promising forms of bacterial preparations is cells encapsulation in the polymer gel. Advantages of using alginate microspheres are slow, controlled release of bacteria, biodegradation in the soil and an increased shelf life. As a result of this study the effectiveness of using capsulated biopreparation was established to increase the nitrogen-fixing potential of legumes. The advantage in colonization activity is shown in comparison with other forms of the biopreparations due to the slow release of rhizobium from the capsules. The optimal composition for formulation is established which ensures the storage of biopreparation for more than 1 year. The prospect of using encapsulated biopreparations under adverse environmental conditions and for joint application with chemical pesticides and agrochemicals is analyzed.

Key words:

Effect of preceding crops and green manure on the fertility of clay loam soil

S. Maiksteniene and A. Arlauskiene

Joniskelis Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Joniskelis, LT-5240 Pasvalys District, Lithuania; tel.fax.: 370-71-38224; e-mail: joniskelio_lzi@post.omnitel.net

Abstract:

Influence of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), sown lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), vetch and oat mixture (Vicia sativa L., Avena sativa L.) and green material of these legume crops used as green manure on the build up of biological N variation of soil properties and productivity of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated on Endocalcari-Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can), according to the texture – clay loam on silty clay. Experiments were carried out at the Joniskelis Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture over the period 1996–2000. It was revealed that lucerne and clover left the highest content of plant residues in the soil (13.7 t ha-1 and 9.2 t ha-1 of dry matter, respectively) which was 2.7 and 1.8 times more as compared to annual vetch and oat mixture. These perennial plants also determined accumulation of the highest content of biological N in roots and residues. According to N content applied with green manure, only lucerne aftermath was comparable to farmyard manure. Lucerne determined accumulation of the highest contents of total nitrogen (0.138%), humus (2.18%) and available phosphorus and potassium (130 and 279 mg kg-1 of soil, respectively) in the soil. Analysis of humus composition showed that its content in clay loam soil was rather stable, however, a slightly higher content of mobile humic acids was found after lucerne as a preceding crop when green manure or farmyard manure had been applied. When winter wheat was grown after lucerne as a preceding crop, the highest grain yield (on average 5.58 t ha-1) was obtained, which was 18.5 and 28.3% higher than that after clover or vetch and oat mixture. Protein content in winter wheat grain was to a greater extent determined by legume crops rather than organic manure.

Key words:

clay loam, green manure, humus, legume crops, winter wheat