Innovative Highly Effective Complex Bacterial Inoculant for Pre-Sowing Treatment of Legume Seeds

EKOVITAL is a highly effective ecological inoculant designed for the pre-sowing inoculation of legume crops (soybeans, peas, chickpeas, alfalfa, lupine, vetch, beans, sweet clover, sainfoin, forage beans, clover, lentils, and others) in organic and integrated farming conditions. This environmentally safe inoculant has a unique combination of nitrogen-fixing, phosphate-mobilizing, growth-regulating, and immunoprotective properties of microorganisms, which have a positive residual effect on soil microbiota and fertility.

The preparation is made and applied separately for each legume crop, as specific species of rhizobial bacteria form nodules and fix nitrogen only on the roots of the host plant. In addition to the beneficial live bacteria, the biopreparation contains a naturally balanced complex of physiologically active metabolic products of rhizobia and bacilli, including B vitamins, stimulatory phytohormones (auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins), enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, polysaccharides, and antibiotic substances against phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi.

The bioagents in EKOVITAL are competitive and complementary to a wide range of varieties. They improve nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition, stimulate productivity, and are effective in various soils, climatic zones, and under different phytosanitary and stress conditions. The titers of live nitrogen-fixing rhizobial cells and phosphate-mobilizing bacilli in the product are no less than 3-5·10^9 cells/ml.

EKOVITAL promotes the formation of nodules on legume roots and colonization of the rhizosphere by phosphate-mobilizing bacteria. It intensifies plant growth, protects against diseases and stress, increases the yield of legume crops (by 17-38%), raises the protein, fat, and vitamin content in the seeds, and improves the agrochemical and physical properties of the soil.

Application Method

Pre-sowing seed treatment with EKOVITAL should be carried out the day before or on the day of sowing. The recommended dosage of the biopreparation is 100-200 ml per hectare portion of seed or 0.5-1.0 liters per 1 ton of seed. To treat a batch of seeds, dilute the prescribed dose of the product to the required volume (calculated at 1.0-1.5% of the seed sowing rate). Seeds are treated by mixing manually or in seed treatment machines that are free from pesticide residues, and lightly air-dried, avoiding direct sunlight to preserve the bacteria’s viability. Seeds should be sown in moist soil. The recommended minimum soil temperature for application is +10°C, with a maximum of +30°C. The product should be mixed before use.

The inoculant is not compatible in tank mixtures with strong chemical seed treatments. Only low-toxicity seed treatments approved for use on legumes with inoculants may be combined with the product. If necessary, it can be combined with seed treatments such as Biopolicid, Fever, Scarlet, Maxim Star, Maxim XL 035 FS, Vitavaks-200FF, Kinto Duo, Fundazol in a single tank mix. It can also be used with other growth-stimulating biopreparations, surfactants, and micronutrients.

Storage Conditions

The product is available in liquid or gel forms (with adhesive) and also on inert carriers. The inoculant is packaged in polymer bottles or canisters. Store the inoculant in its original packaging, in a dry, light-protected place, separately from pesticides and other chemicals and toxic substances. The shelf life is guaranteed for 2 months at temperatures between +4°C and +15°C. The product is registered in Ukraine and approved for use in organic farming according to the MAOC standard, which is equivalent to the EU Regulations No. 834/2007 and No. 889/2008.