Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

 Hi.  I'm trying to grow various ornamental legumes (Caesalpinia,
Calliandra, Dalea) that aren't native to where I live (northern New
Mexico), though some might be found within 50 or 100 miles.  Am I right
in thinking the following things?

1. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are symbiotic with these plants
won't occur in my soil.

2. They won't be included in commercial inoculants either.

3. My plants will not fix nitrogen.

4. They'll need at least as much nitrogen in their fertilizer as
non-leguminous plants (and my soil, like most in New Mexico, is very
low in nitrogen).

Thanks.

--
Jerry Friedman

 I disagree. My experience is that compost and/or manure have those
bacteria, and that they will persist in the soil after one crop. You
will not need N-fertilization in that case. Of course, my experience is
limited to peas and various beans.

Also, if you have clover in your lawn, or vetch by the roadside, they
may be around.

 simy1 wrote:

I'm wondering whether the compost and manure that "inoculate" your
beans and peas have the right bacteria because they come from areas
where beans and peas are grown, and whether I could get any that would
have the right bacteria for my desert plants.


Lawn?  Is that something people have in other parts of the world?

I do have sweet clover and alfalfa growing wild in my garden, and I
encourage them because I need all the nitrogen and all the plants with
flowers I can get, but according to
<http://www.fao.org/Wairdocs/ILRI/x5546E/x5546e05.htm>  there's a
particular species of bacteria (Rhizobium meliloti) that's symbiotic
with those plants.  I suspect that it won't be symbiotic with the other
plants I mentioned (Caesalpinia, Calliandra, Dalea).  Can anyone tell
me for sure?

--
Jerry Friedman