ALOSCA inoculation technology

- a different way of delivering rhizobium to farmers.

Farmers no longer have to face the messy business of mixing glue and black peat together and applying it to seed before sowing their pasture and grain legumes.

Scientists from the Centre for Rhizobium Studies at Murdoch University have helped to develop ALOSCA - a new clay based granular inoculant carrier.

In association with ALOSCA Technologies Pty Ltd over the past two years, the researchers have progressed through the testing process from fermenting the inoculants, to embedding them into the clay and fi nally to evaluating them in the fi eld.

'Farmers have always looked for a better method to inoculate legumes as the peat application is a messy business,' said Associate Professor John Howieson, Director of the Centre for Rhizobium Studies.

'Treatment with ALOSCA overcomes the need to sow legumes within three days of inoculation as the clay product has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature. It can then be sown when the soil conditions are right. Farmers also have the benefi t of being able to apply insecticides and fungicides to seed without harming the rhizobia as it is protected within the clay.'

'An ongoing industry concern that the developers of this technology have addressed is the uncertain viability of the traditional peat based product', said marketing manager for ALOSCA Rory Coffey. 'Farmers can now complete seeding programs with confi dence that their legumes will nodulate and deliver the nitrogen fi xing benefi ts they are seeking.'

Further fi eldwork is planned to fi ne tune application rates in varying circumstances and to verify the benefi ts of topdressing existing legume based pastures

This development of the ALOSCA inoculant has been an excellent example of how industry and science can work together to develop better products for farmers.