The Dickinson press., 1914-07-18
ABOUT
ALFALFA INCUBATION
Nitrogen Gathering Bacteria Nee
essary in the Soil.
SENT FREE FE5M WASHINGTON

SENT free FayyM WASHINGTON
BY MANLEY cHAMPLiN, South Da-
~ kota State College.
Judging from the inquiries coming
to this office there is some need for
information about the incubation Of
such crops as clover, alfalfa, etc.
All of the legume crops, including
alfalfa, sweet clover, red clover, peas,
soy beans, common beans, etc., get
their nitrogen supply from the air by
the aid of small organisms known as
nitrogen gathering bacteria These
organisms take the raw nitrogen
from the air and convert it into the
form in which plants are able to alb
sorb it. The bacteria are, therefore,
very necessary to the successful
growth of any Of these crops.
In a region where alfalfa has been
grown to a large extent for many
years it Is very likely that the bac-
terra are naturally present in the soil.
This is found to be true in some parts
of the Black Hills region in South
Dakota. Likewise the bacteria for
red clover are very common in the
soils Of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota
and Eastern South Dakota.
In sections where alfalfa or any of
the other legume crops have not been
commonly grown it would probably
be preferable to inoculate; that Is to
apply the nitrogen gathering bacteria
either to the seed to be sown or to
the land upon which the seed Is to
be sown. Nitrogen gathering bacteria
are prepared in the form known as
pure culture by the United States de-
partment Of agriculture at Washing
ton, D. c., and small quantities Of this
pure culture are sent free to the farm
ers desiring to make a trial Of inocu.
lation. In sending in a request for
this material, the following facts
should be stated: The name of the
crop to be inoculated, amount Of seed
to be sown, acreage to be sown to
this crop, and the approximate date
on which you expect to SOW the seed.
/ The inoculating material is sent
out within seven days Of the time the
application is received and it should
be used before the expiration of
twenty-five days from the date on
which it was sent, as the bacteria
may be destroyed If held longer than
that. Requests should be sent to the
Secretary of Agriculture, Washing.
ton, D. G. The state Of South Dakota
has provided no funds for the making
Of pure culture at the State College
Of Agriculture. - '.sssss So; e.
Karl F. Kellerman of the bureau of
plant industry says that the inocula.
ton Of leguB Seeds with liquid pure
culture Is exceedingly simple. The
seeds to be treated are placed In o
clean bucket, pafl or tub and the
liquid pure culture applied 9 little at
a time, thoroughly stirring the seeds
with the hands, az. though one were
kneading dough. This will produce
a thin, moist coating Of culture on
every seed. Too much liquid makes
the seeds too wet and II left stand.
ling thus for any Extended p5fdod
they may be- injured. The small
quantity Of liquid pure culture fur:
nished by the department is sum
cient to produce the required amount
OF moisture on a considerable bulk OF
seeds, depending entirely upon the
size Of the seeds and how thoroughly
they are, stirred with the culture.
After moistening, the seeds should
be spread in a thin layer on a clean
floor or on newspapers and thorough
" dried. The complete application
requires but a short time and should
not. be done in bright light. OF direct
sunlight. II inoculated in the even
ing and spread in a protected place
the seeds will be ready for early
morning sowing, although seeds thus
treated can be stored for a week or
more should weather or other condi-
tons prevent immediate sowing.
In all cases where incubation Is
practiced a strip should be loft along
Etu0 SuS0 VI ln0 u0lu nOCulas
ton, so as to determine whether or
not the incubation was necessary.
After the alfalfa or other legume
crop is two OF three months old an
abundance Of nodules or small
punches should appear on the roots.
These nodules are the homes OF the
bacteria and the number Of noduIes
indicates the number OF bacteria
present. IL an alfalfa or other legume
crop grows without the bacteria It
takes its nitrogen from the soil the
same as q grain crop and therefore il
not as beneficial TO the soil as it fs5
when 1t gets Its nitrogen from the
air. Furthermore, the legume will
not make the best growth unless II is
supplied with bacteria, OF, on the
other hand, is sown upon land which
is. well MANFRED and rich3in nitrogen:
After one field ID inoculated adjoin-.
Ing fields may be quickly treated ia