title: Inoculant maturity influences survival of rhizobia on seed.
abstract: Survival of Rhizobium trifolii on seeds of arrowleaf clover (Trifolium versiculosum Savi) and subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was affected by the maturity of peat-, vermiculite-, and charcoal-based inoculants. Ten times more rhizobia survived on seed 4 days after inoculation when inoculants were stored (cured) before being utilized as compared with uncured inoculants. Increasing the curing time of inoculants beyond 4 weeks had little effect on increasing survival of seed-applied rhizobia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Materon
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Weaver