- Through nitrogen fixation, pasture legumes can deliver a sustainable input of nitrogen (N) into farming systems.
- Legumes must be adequately nodulated and these nodules need to contain an ‘effective strain’ of rhizobia.
- A scoring system can be used to assess legume nodulation for plants growing for a minimum of 12 weeks in paddock situations.
- An adequately nodulated plant will have a minimum of 20 nodules on the root system and these nodules will be pink in colour if they are effectively fixing nitrogen.
- Nutrient availability, herbicide use and soil pH all affect nodulation.
- Improving legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation can increase productivity.
More information
Dr Ron Yates, DPIRD, WA
E: ronald.yates@agric.wa.gov.au
Belinda Hackney, Central West LLS, NSW
E: belinda.hackney@lls.nsw.gov.au