Novonesis launches concentrated inoculant LeguMax Plus for soybeans in Brazil

The multinational biosolutions company Novonesis has announced the launch of LeguMax Plus, a biological inoculant based on Bradyrhizobium japonicum with a high concentration of microorganisms. 

According to the manufacturer, this provides a ″lower volume of solution, which facilitates the transport and application of the product.″

Additionally, Fernando Bonafé Sei, the technical manager at Novonesis, highlighted that the new product has ″high performance in the Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) process.″ He explained that the new biosolution has a bacterial load of up to five billion colony-forming units per ml (CFU/ml). Moreover, Novonesis pointed out that it had a stability of 12 months and a recommended dose of 60ml/ha for every 50kg of seeds.

According to Bonafé Sei, similar traditional products available in the market can reach from 1 to 3 billion CFU/ml. ″LeguMax Plus optimizes the logistics of applying biological inputs for the farmer in the field because it reduces the volume of solution applied in seed treatment,″ the manager observed.

Bonafé Sei explained that applying biological inoculants offered many advantages, but specific rules were needed for the microorganisms to develop and provide nitrogen to the plants. ″LeguMax Plus can also be used for in-furrow inoculation, which shows good germination results because the method allows the inoculant to also act as a protective layer for the seed,″ he said. 

However, the specialist noted that the in-furrow application method required some precautions to maintain the survival of beneficial bacteria.

Bonafé Sei stated that it was important not to mix chemical products directly with the inoculants, for seed treatment and in the tank for in-furrow application. ″It seems obvious, but if we want to avoid the mortality of rhizobia due to compatibility issues, then we must separate chemical products from biological ones,″ he said. Therefore, he added that only the inoculant be applied via in-furrow, and the rest of the inputs be applied via seed treatment or foliar spraying.

Another crucial point for good in-furrow inoculation is related to the application process itself. ″The uniformity of coverage of the planting furrow and seeds, as well as the quantities of bacteria applied in the system, need to be observed. Therefore, we must maintain an adequate volume of solution and the bacterial load, with at least three to six doses of inoculant per hectare to ensure good coverage of the inoculant throughout the entire planting furrow,″ he observed.

The technical manager at Novonesis also recommended using dedicated tanks for mixing and applying biologicals. Tanks designed for in-furrow inoculant application are equipped with thermal insulation, protection from sunlight exposure, and agitators, essential for maintaining the quality of the inoculant and the solution throughout the process. 

Even if the equipment was suitable, Bonafé Sei added that the prepared solution should not be used from one day to the next but applied on the same day of preparation to ensure the survival and efficiency of the biological products.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)