Soil cover and physical characteristics which influence erosion are markedly influenced by tillage, crop root characteristics and soil microorganisms. Conservation-tillage provides cover and also influences the microflora makeup. A major factor however, limiting success in managing the microflora has been a lack of technology to foster larger populations of beneficial microbes to survive inoculation and planting. Kamterter has developed a fluid drilling apparatus which will plant large pregerminated seeds. The effort proposed is to develop basic technique and effiency information on inoculating and infecting seeds and seedlings with benficial microorganisms using fluid drilling gels as carriers and novel chemical treatment techniques to facilitate colonization of crop roots by the beneficial microorganisms.
