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Rhizup Inoculant for Lentil

Wittman Farms
with Steve Reinertsen and Jeff Becker, McGregor Company

Objective

Test effectiveness of seed treated with Rhizup lentil inoculum versus uninoculated lentil seed.

Location: Tammany, ID
Annual Precipitation: 20 inch
Rotation: Winter wheat/lentil

Treatments

Check
Rhizup at 2.8 oz/bu

Comments

Legumes are able to supply their need for nitrogen from the air if effective root nodules are formed by Rhizobium bacteria. Many legume crops (pea, lentil, bean, alfalfa) benefit from being inoculated with Rhizobium bacteria because the Rhizobium found in the soil is not effective. This is especially true if a particular legume crop has not been grown in a particular field before and the level of available soil nitrogen is low. The soil in this test was a silt loam with 4.03% organic matter, pH 5.9, and 69 pounds of residual nitrogen in the top two feet. Plots were 20 by 650 feet. Seeding took place 24 April 95. The liquid inoculant was applied as the seed was being augured into the drill box.

Data

**Lentil yield,** lb/ac
Treatment	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Rep 4	Average
Check	1559	1512	1449	1418	1485a
Rhizup	1512	1402	1370	1197	1370a
LSD (5%)					120
CV					3.7%

Conclusions

We did not see any yield response to the inoculant. This field has grown many lentil crops and may have an adequate population of effective Rhizobium bacteria. It is also possible that the amount of available nitrogen and nitrogen mineralized over the relatively moist, cool spring and summer was adequate to supply the needs of the crop.

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Hans Kok, WSU/UI Extension Conservation Tillage Specialist, UI Ag Science 231, PO Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844 USA Redesigned by Leila Styer, CAHE Computer Resource Unit; Maintained by Debbie Marsh, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, WSU