Research Objective
This project compares nine granular biological treatments designed to promote agronomic improvements in pulse crops. The trial evaluates commercially available formulations, including traditional rhizobial inoculants and enhanced biological blends containing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microbes, and biological fungicides on peas and lentils across Saskatchewan.
Side-by-side comparisons of various biological products provide growers insight into the effectiveness of these products under field conditions. The findings revealed that microbial inoculants affect agronomic factors (emergence, plant density, maturity, protein content, yield) depending on field conditions, location and previous crops.
Microbial inoculants can improve seedling emergence, plant density, and yield, but these benefits vary by location. While some treatments showed value at specific locations, there were no consistent improvements in agronomic parameters across all sites. This variability indicates the importance of considering local environmental factors when choosing inoculants.