NEW INOCULANTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE PHOSPHATE FERTILISER USE IN LEGUMES AND CEREALS

| Date: 17 Sep 2009

Figure 1. The effect of TagTeamTM on the yield of Field Peas

TagTeamTM – A new multi-action inoculant for grain legumes

Novozymes Biologicals Australia, formerly Philom Bios Australia, a joint venture company between the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Novozymes Biological Limited are developing a suite of inoculant products for grain legume, cereal and oilseed growers that will increase yield and profits. The first inoculant to be commercialised by the joint venture is a product called TagTeamTM. TagTeamTM is a multi-action inoculant that combines both rhizobium inoculant and a unique phosphate solubilising inoculant. TagTeamTM addresses both nitrogen and phosphate fertility with the inclusion of the naturally occurring soil fungus, Penicillium bilaii. The soil fungus grows on plant roots and makes less available forms of soil phosphate available to plants. Phosphate helps create and move much needed energy for the nitrogen fixation process.

The other benefits of the soil fungus’ action are that more root hairs develop. Each root hair is a potential entry point for the rhizobia bacteria. More entry points mean more nodules and more nodules mean more nitrogen is fixed. More nitrogen fixed = higher yields.

Limited trial data was available at the time of printing however two replicated experiments, one at Greenly on the Eyre Peninsula SA and the other at Marrar in southern NSW offers some insights into the effect of the TagTeamTM (a multi-action inoculant) with N ProveTM (a single action inoculant) applied to field peas at two rates of phosphate fertiliser on low fertility sites.


Figure 1. The effect of TagTeamTM on the yield of Field Peas

• The results show that over the two trials TagTeamTM increased the yield by 8% at both rates of fertiliser.
• TagTeamTM plus 5 kg/ha P (equivalent to 25 kg/ha MAP) gave higher yields (Greenly 3%, Marrar 6%) than the 10 kg/ha P (equivalent to 50 kg/ha MAP) without TagTeamTM. This shows that at these sites when TagTeamTM used as a seed treatment has the potential to reduce fertiliser phosphorous rates by at least 5 kg/ha of phosphorous (equivalent to 25 kg/ha MAP) in field peas.
• Similar replicated trials have been conducted in NNSW on chickpeas and the results will be discussed at Goodiwindi and Dubbo.
• This data demonstrates potential productivity gains for growers of $30/ha using TagTeam™ made up $20 from the yield increase (4.5% average yield increase from a 1.5 t/ha pea crop at $300/tonne) as well as a saving of at least $20/ha in fertiliser cost (reduced MAP rate by 25 kg/ha at a MAP cost of $800/t) subtracting the cost of the product.
• TagTeamTM will be available in a both a self-sticking peat and ‘down the tube’ granular formulations. Separate formulations will be available for chickpeas, lupins and the pea/lentil/fababean/vetch group of crops. TagTeamTM granular rate varies with row spacing, lower rates/ha can be applied at wider row spacings thereby reducing the cost/ha.

JumpStartTM- a new fertility management tool for cereals, canola and legume crops


Novozymes Biologicals Australia is also planning to launch a single action phosphate solubilising inoculant called JumpStartTM in 2009 subject to regulatory approval. JumpStartTM is a fertility management tool that is applied as a seed treatment to cereals, canola and legume crops. The active component in Jumpstart is the naturally occurring soil fungus Penicillium bilaii alone.

As seeds germinate and develop a root system the JumpStartTM fungus and the plant form a mutually beneficial relationship. The fungus grows and multiplies along the crop roots, thriving off the root exudates and releasing organic acids into the soil. These acids break the bonds holding the phosphate nutrient in a mineral form, releasing the phosphate into a form the plant can readily access. The result is enhanced phosphate uptake allowing the crop to achieve its yield potential.

JumpStartTM promotes greater phosphate use efficiency, which results in quick emergence, early vigour, greater stress tolerance, and more even maturity.

Plants with larger root systems have the ability to better withstand a variety of stresses, like short term dry conditions and seedling diseases. JumpStartTM promotes root growth, making the plant better able to access moisture and a range of needed nutrients, not just phosphate, so the plant is better able to withstand a variety of crop stresses.

JumpStartTM promotes even crop maturity as well. It increases the amount of phosphate available to the crop throughout the growing season. The amount of phosphate can vary by 2 to 4 times the average within very short distances. Using JumpStartTM helps ensure every plant gets better access to phosphate. This results in increased uniformity of crop emergence, development and maturity. Earlier, more uniform maturity often means earlier harvests and higher grain quality.

Six recently harvested split paddock wheat trials using farmer equipment have shown an increase in wheat yield of 5% with JumpStart™ using half the normal rate of fertiliser used by the grower. This represents a return of at least $45/ha made up of $25 increased yield ($250/t at 2t/ha) as well as a saving of at least $20/ha in fertiliser cost (reduced MAP rate by 25 kg/ha at a MAP cost of $800/t). Results from NNSW trials will be discussed at Goodiwindi and Dubbo.

Jumpstart will be released in 2009 subject to regulatory approval.

Contact details


Rob Velthuis
Novozymes Biologicals Australia
PO Box 5068
Sandhurst East, Bendigo Vic 3550
Ph:03 54436331
Fx: 03 54416611
Email: RGV@Novozymes.com