ChileanJAR

The effect of inoculation and pelleting with calcium carbonate of clover seeds and soil liming was studied in four pot experiments, conducted in the glasshouse at the Ouilamapu Experimental Station (INIA, Chillán, Chile), using four different soils, ofthe VII and VIII Regions of Chile. Two species of subterraneum clover (Trifolium brachycalycinum cv. Ciare and Trifolium subterraneum cv. Mount Barker), red clover (Trifolium pratense cv. Ouiñequeli) and white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Regal) were used. In each experiment, treatments were: seeds with and without inoculation; pelleted seeds with and without inoculation; and limed soil, seeded with and without inoculation. In general, the effects of inoculation and pelleting on dry weight of nodules, nodule activity, dry matter production and herbage nitrogen content were positive in all species evaluated, but differences were not always statistically significant. In most cases, and interaction between inoculation and pelleting was observed. Soil liming was beneficial only when the legume was sown in low pH soil (red clover; pH =4.9).