Nitrogen inoculants are better than nitrogen fertilizer in pulses
Nitrogen inoculants deliver better nutrition than nitrogen fertilizers for most pulse crops by synchronizing nitrogen fixation to plant growth, supplying nitrogen to the plant in the quantities that it needs when it needs it.
Nitrogen inoculants deliver incredible value. For example, a 3 ton per hectare pea crop requires 150 kilograms per hectare of nitrogen. A well-inoculated pea crop can fix up to 80% of its nitrogen needs or in this case about 120 kilograms of nitrogen. If nitrogen fertilizer costs $0.85* per kilogram, fertilizer would cost $102.00 per hectare (120 kilograms x $0.85 per kilogram). With inoculants priced from $5.00 to $18.00 per hectare depending on formulation, using an inoculant would save $84.00 to $97.00 per hectare. That is a great return on investment.
*Representative fertilizer prices as of autumn, 2005.
