How to Introduce Rhizobia Bacteria to Established Clover

Clover, of the genus Trifolium, is one of many legume plants that work in tandem with rhizobia bacteria to create nitrogen around the roots of the plant. This process is known as nitrogen fixing. This is beneficial for the plants and the environment, as it decreases or eliminates the need for chemical nitrogen fertilizers. The bacteria are naturally occurring in the soil in varied amounts, but if you're growing clover as a forage crop, the bacteria are sometimes introduced at seeding or reseeding time to ensure their good work in the soil. The process of introducing the bacteria to the soil is known as inoculation, and varying brands come in different forms, from powder to broth to sticky slurry.

Rhizobia inoculant
Clover seed
Clean bucket
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the rhizobia inoculant labeled for your species of established clover. Select type "B" for red or white clover fields, type "O" for arrowleaf clovers or type "R" for white crimson or berseem clovers. Alternatively, there are inoculants marked for clover generally. They will work, but they may be less effective than those tuned to a specific clover species.
- 2
  Water the tilled-up soil a day or so before reseeding with rhizobia clover seed. The soil must be moist for the bacteria to be active and remain alive in the soil. Introducing rhizobia into dry soil will result in a loss of bacteria and wasted time and money.
- 3
  Mix the clover seed with the rhizobacteria inoculant of choice in a clean bucket, following the product label directions precisely to coat the seed in the inoculant and prepare it to go into the soil.
- 4
  Lay the seed mix or slurry down in the tilled-up furrows of an established clover field at the recommended spread rate for that species of clover seed and the desired coverage.
- 5
  Cover the seed and bacteria with the displaced soil on either side of the furrow.
- 6
  Water the soil well to create a moist environment for seed germination and for the bacteria to do their work.

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