How inoculants can boost soybean production

Global demand for soybeans is at an all-time high, with prices soaring to $15 per 27Kg. By maximising soybean yields, farmers can take advantage of high market prices to generate higher profits. One way to boost soybean production is to use soybean inoculants.

How do soybean inoculants work?

Soybean inoculants allow soybean plants to take up a greater amount of nitrogen, which can boost their growth. The technology involves stimulating the bacteria that live in soil to fix more nitrogen, therefore making more of this vital nutrient available to the plants. Compared to simply adding more fertiliser to the soil, using an inoculant can be much more efficient and result in higher soybean yields.

How do soybean inoculants affect emergence?

Using an inoculant product such as Preside Soybean Inoculant can increase the rate of emergence of soybeans. This product works by encouraging early nodulation, which allows the plant to put down secondary roots to enhance nutrient uptake. As the plant creates more secondary roots, even more potential nodulation sites are created, leading to a chain reaction that boosts the growth and health of the soybean plant.

How to use soybean inoculants

Soybean inoculant products are designed to be easy to use. Farmers can use a liquid inoculant such as Preside, which can easily be mixed and applied to the soybean seed pre planting. This product is designed to prevent seed bridging and clumping, which can cause problems for the growing crop. For in-furrow applications, farmers simply need to mix liquid inoculant with water and place the resulting mixture as close to the seed as possible to supply them with the vital rhizobia bacteria they need.

What do soybean inoculants contain?

Soybean inoculants include rhizobia bacteria, which fix nitrogen to make it more accessible to the plants. Specifically, many inoculants contain bacteria known as Bradyrhizobium japonicum. This type of bacteria also exists as a free-living organism in good quality soils. Adding more of it in the form of a soybean inoculant allows plants to grow faster and more strongly. The levels of B. japonicum in soil naturally decline over the years, which can have a negative effect on soybean growth if farmers do not use inoculants.

The best inoculant products include multiple strains of B. japonicum to maximise the consistency of their results. Preside soybean inoculant also contains a patented extender technology known as "Take Off", which helps soybean plants to more effectively use the increased amounts of nitrogen supplied by the nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Should farmers use soybean inoculants?

Soybean inoculants improve crop yields and therefore lead to greater profits for growers. Using inoculants is a great way for soybean farmers to contribute to producing the soybeans the world needs for human and animal feed.