Numbers of clover rhizobia needed for crown nodulation and early growth of clover in soil

Low soil populations of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii indicate a need for inoculating clovers (Trifolium sp.) at planting. The number of rhizobia in soil varies considerably from field to field and the number needed for nodulation on the upper taproot and for vigorous seedling development is not known. Two experiments were undertaken using arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi) and crimson clover (T. incarnatum L.) grown in pots filled with soil. Two soils were used; one contained 10 indigenous rhizobia g^-1 and the other contained fewer than three. The treatments consisted of amending each soil with two strains of inoculant rhizobia to contain from 10 to approximately 1×10⁶ rhizobia g^-1 followed by planting to clover. The number of nodules near the top of the root increased as the number of rhizobia in the soil increased to the highest inoculum level. A low number (approximately 1×10³ to 1×10⁴) of rhizobia was sufficient for maximal N content of seedlings. It seems that soil containing 100 or fewer rhizobia g^-1 may respond to inoculation with increased crown nodulation and seedling vigor.