Philom Bios Inc.
3935 Thatcher Avenue
Saskatoon, SK Canada S7R 1A3
1-888-744-5662
www.philombios.com

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. This ensures that nitrogen is supplied to the plant in the quantities it needs - when it is needed.

Pea
Nitrogen inoculants deliver incredible value. For example, a 50-bushel pea crop requires 150 pounds per acre of nitrogen. A well-inoculated pea crop can fix up to 80% of its nitrogen needs or in this case about 120 pounds of nitrogen.

If an inoculant is not used - nitrogen fertilizer will be needed. With nitrogen fertilizer costs at $0.40* per pound, fertilizer would cost $48.00 per acre (120 pounds x $0.40 per pound). With inoculants priced from $2.00 to $8.40 per acre depending on formulation, using an inoculant would save $39.60 to $46.00 per acre.

That is a great return on investment and assumes that all the nitrogen fertilizer applied will be used by the plant. Nitrogen fertilizer efficiency is considered to be approximately 50% for the year of application. Therefore, to ensure the crop acquires 120 lbs of N – 240 lbs would need to be applied ($96/ac)!
*Representative fertilizer prices as of spring, 2006.

Soybean
Nitrogen inoculants deliver better nutrition than nitrogen fertilizers by synchronizing nitrogen fixation to plant growth, to supply nitrogen to the plant in the quantities that it needs when it needs it.Nitrogen inoculants deliver incredible value, too. For example, a 55-bushel per acre soybean crop requires 288 pounds per acre of nitrogen. A well-inoculated soybean crop can fix up to 75% of its nitrogen needs, or in this case about 216 pounds of nitrogen, so the savings can be substantial. With nitrogen fertilizer costs at $0.401 per pound, fertilizer would cost $86.40 per acre (216 pounds x $0.40 per pound). With inoculants priced from $1.30 to $7.38 per acre depending on formulation, using an inoculant would save $79.02 to $85.10 per acre. That is a great return on investment.
1 Representative fertilizer prices as of September, 2006.