biopreparados.es

Inoculating legume seed with rhizobia

EN FR ES DE IT PT

Inoculating legume seed with rhizobia

You are viewing a freely accessible recipe. Create a free account to access the full recipe collection.

Create a free account

By

Inoculants Other Mixed (several origins)

Other

A preparation method specific to this particular record, different from the four usual methods (infusion, decoction, maceration, fermentation).

Process summary

See the record itself for the detailed step-by-step process — there is no single generic process for this category.

See all preparation methods

 ✅ Authorised EU Bio-inputs in the European UnionBio-inputs in the United StatesBio-inputs in Brazil

Coat legume seed (bean, soybean, faba bean, alfalfa…) with its matching rhizobium, stuck on with sugar water, so that the roots form nodules that fix nitrogen from the air. Method from New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension.

Application

Application description: Sow the inoculated seed immediately. Pouring inoculant onto seed in the planter is not enough.

Dose: The rate on the inoculant label; double it in hot or dry weather, with old inoculant or on land that has never grown that legume.

Tips

Rhizobia die with heat, sun and drying: keep the inoculant cool (in the fridge for long periods) and respect its expiry date. If you must wait a few hours, put the seed back in its bag with a damp paper towel and close it. Do not mix with chemical seed treatments or fertilisers applied on the seed.

Preparation process

1. Dissolve the sugar in the warm water and let it cool.
2. Lightly moisten the seed with a little of this solution, without soaking it.
3. Add the inoculant and mix (small cement mixer or pouring between two clean buckets) until all seeds are coated.
4. Sow straight away.

Ingredients

  • Water ⓘ — 0.264 gal
  • Sucrose ⓘ — 7.055 oz
  • Rhizobium (rhizobia), inoculant ⓘ
  • Rhizobium inoculant matching the legume (label rate); seed; sticker: 1 cup of sugar (about 200 g) in 1 quart (about 0.95 L) of warm water.

Tools and equipment

  • Wooden stirring paddle
  • 20-litre bucket
  • Cement mixer, drum or closed container for coating seeds

Preparation time

15 minutes.

Product obtained

Seeds covered with a thin dark coat of inoculant.

Source / Reference

New Mexico State University, Cooperative Extension Service (rev. 2015). “Inoculation of Legumes”, Guide A-130 (R. Flynn; original authors W. C. Lindemann and C. R. Glover): https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_a/A130.pdf — Ingredient spotted on the Ecoagro technical sheet (Guamúchil, Sinaloa, Mexico). Recipe written in our own words.

Recipe written in our own words by biopreparados.es. Copyright and sources

Do you know the author or the source? Tell us

Contact person

Grégory Prybys
Tel: +33 7 75 76 37 70 — WhatsApp: +54 9 11 2157 0868
Country: Argentina

📱 Contact via WhatsApp Suggest a correction or a new term
Share

Content hidden: this page is protected. Close developer tools to keep viewing it.

Regulatory status

✅ Authorised in the EU Bio-inputs in the European UnionBio-inputs in the United StatesBio-inputs in Brazil

Bio-inputs in the European Union Bio-preparations authorised in the European Union
Bio-inputs in the United States Authorised bio-preparations: United States
Bio-inputs in Brazil Bio-preparations authorised in Brazil

Authorised in the EU, the USA and Brazil. EU: in organic production, preparations of micro-organisms may be used to improve soil condition or nutrient availability (Regulation 2018/848). USA: microbial inoculants are non-synthetic substances allowed by the National Organic Program; on-farm production for own use needs no registration as long as no effect against pests or diseases is claimed. Brazil: Law 15.070 of 2024 allows bio-inputs to be produced on the farm for own use, without registration and without sale. Do not sell or give away the product without authorisation.

Official texts

What the icons mean: ✅ Authorised ⚠️ Tolerated 🟠 Not prohibited ⛔ Not authorised EU 🔎 Status being verified Full details →

Documentary information, checked on 01/11/2026. Not a substitute for legal advice; regulations may vary from country to country. See the regulations · Substances authorised in Europe

Related recipes

Inoculants

Mountain microorganisms

🟠 Not prohibited
Biofertilizers

Aerated compost tea

✅ Authorised in some countries Bio-inputs in the United States
Inoculants

On-farm mycorrhizal inoculum

✅ Authorised EU Bio-inputs in the European UnionBio-inputs in the United StatesBio-inputs in Brazil
Inoculants

Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)

🟠 Not prohibited
Inoculants

Bijamrita

✅ Authorised in some countries Bio-inputs in India
Biofertilizers

Mountain microorganism biofertilizer

🟠 Not prohibited

See also · Recipes sharing ingredients

Sucrose (sugar) solution Vinegar for weed management Biol Mexican sunflower tea (Tithonia) Worm castings Aqueous neem seed extract Natural insect attractant in bottles (NIA) Hydrogen peroxide for pruning tools and seed

© 2026 biopreparados.es