Tests were performed by certified engineers V. Kolomeetz and S. Kychuk (Poliska Brabch of Institute of Soil and Agrochemistry of Agrarian Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Field experiments on the effects of the bacterial consortium KLEPS-C in crop of corn ("Kollectyvny 225" var.) and buckwheat ("Lileya" var.) grown on different types of soils was conducted in 1995. Mineral fertilizers were used in dose of N₃₀P₉₀K₉₀ (kg per hectare). The plots (0.5 ha ) used in four replications were randomly situated.

The characteristics of four types of the soils of Volyn region were:

• organic matter - 1.2 %
• pH - 6.2
• N - 4.3
• P - 7.6
• K - 8.4 mg in 100 g soil (podzol, experiment 1)

• organic matter, 1.6 %
• pH - 7.2
• N -8.7
• P - 10.6
• K - 13.5 mg in 100 g soil (chernozem, experiment 2)

• organic matter, 1.6 %
• pH - 5.6
• N - 4.7
• P - 9.0
• K - 10.4 mg in 100 g soil ( podzol, experiment 3)

• organic matter, 1.9 %
• pH - 6.8
• N - 6.4
• P - 13.0
• K - 15.6 mg in 100 g soil (chernozem, experiment 4)

Fungicide TMTD (Tcherkasy, Ukraine) was used in control experiments according to manufacturer instruction.
The inoculant KLEPS-C has been used for pretreatment of corn and buckwheat seeds. The field trials have demonstrated an increase of the corn yield of 37 per cent (to control) and 11 per sent (to fungicide) after the use of KLEPS-C on the podzol soil (Table 1). Application of the inoculant led to decrease of percentage of plants injured by Helminthosporium to 46 per cent of control, and action of the inoculant was better than the industrial fungicide. Similar results were observed on more fertile chernozem soil (see Table 1). Results of a set of experiments displayed the possibility to increase yields of corn with minimal nitrogenous fertilizers.

Yields of buckwheat inoculated with KLEPS-C were increased on both podzol and chernozem soils. The inoculant appeared to inhibit Ascochyta disease relative to the TMTD treatment, but the disease did not exceed 3.2 per cent any treatment (Table 2).

Note: Values followed by the same letter in each column are not significantly different
(p=0.05) by Student’s t-test
ND-not determined

Note: Values followed by the same letter in each column are not significantly different
(p=0.05) by Student’s t-test

The inoculation experiment on winter rye ("Veresen" var.) seeds was performed on soil with the following characteristics:

• organic matter - 1.3 % ,
• pH - 5.4;
• N - 7.4;
• P - 9.1;
• K - 10.3 mg in 100 g soil (podzol).

Fertilizers were not used. The plots (1.0 ha ) used in two replications.
A positive effect of KLEPS-C on winter rye was observed. Inoculation of winter rye resulted in an increase of yield of about 1.25 t/ha compared to the control (non-inoculated seeds) and in 0.9 t/ha more than in fugicide treatment (Table 3). The plants appeared to be less injured by bacterial and fungal diseases.

Note: Values followed by the same letter in each column are not significantly different
(p=0.05) by Student’s t-test

The experiment on an oat vegetation mass spraying was performed in Manivtzi on soil with the following characteristics:

• organic matter - 1.2 %,
• pH – 5.6;
• N - 4.3;
• P – 9.1;
• K – 10.3 mg in 100 g soil (podzol).

No fertilizers applied. The oat "Bug" var. was used. Plots (0.02 ha) were randomly situated in 4 replications. Inoculant Agate-25 (Russia) has been used for a comparison of the inoculant effect. Inoculation of winter rye resulted in an increase of yield of about 0.45 t/ha compared to the control (watered seeds) and in decrease plant diseases caused by Ascochyta and Puccinia coronifera (Table 4).

Note: Values followed by the same letter in each column are not significantly different
(p=0.05) by Student’s t-test