>I know this may seem dumb, but i guess i'll ask anyway, because i'm never
>going to find out if i don't
>
>
>my understanding was that legumes, all the beans and peas and their buddies
>in the clover world etc fixed nitrogen, and did a good job of it on their
>own, so why does everyone recommend adding innoculants? just to max out
>their 'fixing' ability? it almost seems to me that you would add innoculant
>to something that didn't fix, but maybe i am missing what exactly the
>innoculants do
Dear Jane
Legumes do not fix nitrogen by themselves. Legumes fix nitrogen IN
SYMBIOSIS with microorganisms known as rhyzobia which form nodules on the
legumes' roots. The legume provides sugars and the rhyzobia give back
nitrogen in the form of amino acids. If the appropriate rhyzobia are not
present in the soil, however, there is NO nodulation and NO nitrogen
fixation. Thus if one is not sure the appropriate rhyzobia are present it
is a good idea to apply these microorganisms along with the seed as an
innoculant. Most clovers require Rhyzobium trifoliatum, while alfalfa and
sweet clovers require Rhyzobium meliloti, garden peas and beans require
Rhyzobium phaesioli, soybeans require Rhyzobium japonicum, birdsfoot
trefoil requires Rhyzobium cornunculatus and so forth. Innoculants are
cheap and easy to use and a better bet than insuring your UPS packages.
This is NOT a dumb question. When you don't know, by all means ask. When I
started farming I didn't know and I asked. Good idea, asking! You only need
apologize for ignorance if you perpetuate it. Of course, those perpetuating
ignornance often are defensive but seldom are truly apologetic about it.
It's one of life's paradoxes I guess.
Best,
Hugh Lovel
>
>appreciate clarifications and apologize for the ignorance
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