Taking the pulse: 2024 grower survey about legume inoculation

The University of Adelaide are part of a national Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) supported investment to increase the effectiveness of nitrogen fixation in pulse crops through the development of improved rhizobial strains, inoculation and crop management practices.

This survey aims to collect grower input about knowledge and practice in relation to inoculating legumes, especially grain legumes. This is important information to guide our research and to better understand practice change in the longer term. Similar surveys were conducted in 2013 and 2017.

The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and will run until 31st March 2025.

Survey results will be compiled into a report and shared with GRDC, growers and consultants. For a brief summary of results of the previous two surveys please go to: Summary of surveys

The University respects the privacy of individuals and is committed to the collection, use, disclosure and management of, and provision of access to, Personal Information in a manner consistent with the standards contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles.
We appreciate your help with the survey and look forward to using the results to find ways to enhance legume nitrogen fixation and help you improve your farm business.
** If you would like a free hard copy of the informative new guide "Inoculating legumes: practice and science" (120 pages, published by GRDC), please email Maarten Ryder

For more information, please contact Dr Maarten Ryder, University of Adelaide, maarten.ryder@adelaide.edu.au. Or visit the GRDC Investments page for GRDC Project Code UOA2312-008RTX.
1.Please provide the location (Postcode) of your farm
2.Indicate total farm size including leased land (ha)
3.Legume inoculants contain rhizobia. What do the rhizobia do? (select one answer)
4.There are different inoculant groups (e.g. E, F, G, N etc.).  Did you know that different legumes require different rhizobia?
5.The amount of Nitrogen fixed by legumes is affected by (select one answer)
Peat inoculant
6.Peat inoculants are still the most popular. Which of the following statements are true for peat inoculants?
7.Do you consider any of these factors when deciding if inoculation is required? (select all that apply)
8.Do you sow the following legumes into dry soil?
Yes, mostly
Yes, sometimes
No, always sow into moist soil
Peas
Lentil
Faba / broad beans
Chickpea
Lupin
Soybean
Mungbean
Vetch
Pastures
9.Indicate legume types and amount (% of farm) sown in the most recent cropping cycle.
0%
1-5%
6-10%
11-20%
21-50%
>50%
Field pea
Lentil
Faba/broad bean
Chickpea
Lupin
Soybean
Mung bean
Vetch
Other pulses
Lucerne
Sub-clover
Medic
Serradella
Other pasture
Inoculation via auger (Photo: N. Seymour)
10.Did you use legume inoculant in the most recent cropping cycle?
11.If you answered Yes to the previous question, which legume/s did you inoculate?
12.Are there legumes you no longer inoculate?
13.If you answered yes to the previous question, which legume/s do you no longer inoculate?
14.If you do not use inoculant on a particular legume, why not?
15.Do you apply inoculants at above recommended rates (e.g. double)?
Types of inoculant: peat, granular, liquid, freeze-dried
16.Which of the following inoculation methods do you use?
17.Do you choose inoculant products that contain rhizobia together with other biologicals? 
Green tick (quality assurance) logo 
18.Do you consider the Green Tick logo (quality indicator) to help with inoculant choice?
19.Do you add fertilizer when sowing pulses?  Which fertilizer(s)?
20.If you answered Yes to the previous question, at what rate do you apply fertilizer?
less than 50 kg/ha
50 - 80 kg/ha
more than 80 kg/ha
Most recent legume crop
5 years ago
21.If you answered Yes to Q18, where do you place the fertilizer?
22.What stops you growing more legumes?
Very important
Somewhat important
Minor importance
N/A
Poor economic returns
Reliability of production
Difficulties with marketing
Difficult to control weeds
23.Do you consider legume N benefits when assessing how much fertiliser to apply in post legume crops?
 
Pink (active) nodules on faba bean (Photo: E. Farquharson)
24.Legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation
Usually
Sometimes
No
Don't know (part B only)
Do you normally check legume nodulation (typically 2 to 3 months after emergence)?
Are your legumes adequately nodulated?
25.Do you use agronomist advice for guidance on inoculation decisions?
26.Indicate areas where you would like to have further information or see more research done about rhizobia and inoculation (1 = not useful 5 = very useful)
1
2
3
4
5
Compatibility with chemicals (herbicides / insecticides / fertilisers / organic amendments)
Where and when and how to inoculate
An app for a smart phone / device on when and how to inoculate
PREDICTA rNod tests to measure rhizobia in soil
Independent information on products and formulations
How to assess nodulation
Economic benefits of inoculation and legume N fixation
Ranking of grain legume crops and varieties for N fixation efficiency
Trouble shooting legume inoculation failure
27.Thank you for your participation. If you want to be informed about the results of the project, please include your email address below.

For more information about legume inoculation, an electronic copy of the 120 page booklet "Inoculating Legumes: Practice and Science", published by the GRDC, is available here: https://grdc.com.au/inoculating-legumes.

To receive a free hard copy of "Inoculating Legumes: Practice and Science", please email Maarten Ryder

For more information, please contact Maarten Ryder, University of Adelaide.
Current Progress,
0 of 27 answered