Biological crop inputs in southwest North Dakota
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Ryan Buetow
Extension Cropping Systems Specialist
Dickinson Research Extension Center
North Dakota State University
1041 State Avenue
701 456-1106
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A common topic being brought up at meetings this past year have been biological inputs and seed treatments. Before discussing these further it is important to recognize the importance of environment in the success of biological inputs. One of the most well-established biological inputs that is backed up by decades of research would be rhizobacteria on legumes. By applying an inoculant or source of rhizobacteria to the seed, we are able to form a symbiotic relationship allowing the legume to fix free nitrogen (N) from the air and in return, the bacteria is rewarded with energy from the plant. This interaction costs the plant energy, so if there is plenty of N already readily available in the soil, the plant will be lazy and use this source instead of going through the process of forming this relationship. Even if this relationship does form, the amount of N fixed will vary on based on temperature, moisture levels, and length of growing season. As we have seen in our region as pH drops, so does microbial activity. As the soil pH drops below 5.1, so does the amount of rhizobacterial nodules on our legumes. The soil becomes too acidic for the bacteria to be productive.
Along with these symbiotic bacteria, there also exists asymbiotic N-fixing bacteria. These are organisms that have the ability to fix atmospheric N into a form that all plants can use. Instead of forming a relationship with a plant however, they will instead get their needed energy from organic matter and exudates from plant roots. Many trials show that the activity of these asymbiotic bacteria increase when tillage decreases. It appears that if you provide the right conditions for these bacteria they will thrive, so soil health proponents have long been preaching that if you build it, they will come. Even with no-till and good soil conditions, these bacteria will still be negatively impacted if the pH is too acidic.
There have been many new products popping up on the market, all variations of some type of “bug in a jug”. It is important to keep in mind that these are often bacteria that have been cultured from very different environments than what our field conditions contain. It is possible that in some field environments, addition of these products can improve yield, but it is very unlikely that these products will thrive in our often dry environment, and even more unlikely if that field is acidic. These biological inputs are not being applied into a vacuum and will have to compete for resources with microorganisms that are adapted to our soil conditions. Work is being done by Dr. Barney Geddes in the microbiology department at NDSU to find which of these “good bugs” are thriving in our drought effected, saline, and acidic soils, but we are still very far from reaching a usable product that can be applied to a crop. There is much potential with biological products in the future, but be very skeptical of anything on the market in 2023. As with anything new, make sure to leave a few untreated strips in the field for comparison, especially if you are already planning to try any of these products this growing season.
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