RECENT ADVANCES IN INOCULANT TECHNOLOGY AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

Although no accurate information is available, it seems clear that world-wide production of legume inoculant is static or in decline. This is a paradoxical situation in a world where improved strategies for augmenting biological N-2, fixation have the potential to contribute enormous returns in the quality and quantity of food for humans and domestic animals. Here we examine some of the reasons. Peat or related materials of biological origin have been used as carriers for legume inoculants for more than 90 yr. Little progress has been made with alternative carriers that might enhance the numerical quality of inoculants. The traditional means of delivery of inoculant into the soil is by seed inoculation. There are now other methods of delivery which are both practical and ecologically sound. The most efficient strategy for many situations would be to breed or select promiscuous lines of legume with enhanced capacity to fix N with populations of rhizobia resident in the soil. This strategy would bypass the act of legume inoculation. These and related matters are discussed in the paper.