Selection of rhizobia for prairie legumes used in restoration and reconstruction programs in Minnesota

The inoculation of indigenous legumes used in revegetation and wetland reconstruction activities in Minnesota presents problems not found in more traditional seedings. Few studies have sought inoculant-quality rhizobia for the legumes involved or examined their interaction in an environment that involves a number of different legumes seeded simultaneously under initially adverse climatic conditions. In this note, we identify effective strains for Astragalus canadensis, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Dalea purpurea, Dalea Candida, Desmodium canadense, and Lespedeza capitata. We are currently using these strains to examine the contribution of inoculated legumes to prairie productivity in Minnesota.