In 2018, it was identified there was benefit from inoculating chickpea seed at time of sowing.
During a trial conducted at Pyramid Hill and funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Agriculture Victoria, new inoculation techniques were found to have the same efficacy, but offered additional logistical benefit to the system.
BCG researcher, James Murray, explained the aim of the trial was to compare a range of inoculant products on chickpea root nodulation, grain yield and nitrogen fixation potential.
"The trial site received 122mm of rainfall for the growing season, on a clay loam soil and barley stubble," Mr Murray said.
As chickpeas are not native to Australia, the soils do not contain the chickpea specific rhizobia, therefore it is essential rhizobia are added to the system to allow nitrogen fixation to occur.
Mr Murray explained that traditionally inoculation has been done using a peat slurry applied to the seed immediately prior to sowing but this method presents some logistical challenges.
"Additional labour is required to prepare the seed and it must be sown in a timely fashion, ideally 24 hours following inoculation," he said.
"Alternative products have been developed in granular and liquid form, suitable for injection into the furrow, which are not as perishable as the traditional peat slurry method."
The treatments included in this trial were; nil, Alosca(r) granular, freeze dry liquid injection, Nodulator(r) granular, peat slurry applied to seed and TagTeam(r) granular. The trial was sown on May 31, 2018 into moist soil.
"These products may be a tool to allow more flexibility into the farming system, providing they work as effectively as the traditional method, which we have highlighted they can in this trial," Mr Murray said.
"Granular inoculants do come at a higher cost, and therefore the benefit in logistics would need to be balanced with the additional cost."
For more information, call (03) 5492 2787 or email info@bcg.org.au
