rhizobium inoculation

The basic question is: how important is it?

I was aware that pea family plants fix nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with various species of rhizobium, but I had assumed that these bacteria were nearly omnipresent - that one merely needed to put the plants in the ground and the bacteria would find their way to the pea-family roots. Now, however, I'm seeing that many people recommend inoculating pea-family ground covers with the bacteria. My specific concern right now is around black and honey locust. I have a number that I started from seed, growing in pots, that are starting to go in the ground. I did not inoculate these at germination time. Should I be concerned about their N-fixing status? Is there any good way to remedy this situation?

Thanks.

That's a good question! I hope someone more knowledgeable than myself answers! I had assumed that they were just present or near by and that the sugars and other nutrients pushed out by the roots attracted them to the area.

My uninformed assumption is that the bacteria are there and the inoculation is just a result of a market of consumers wanting a magic product that speeds things up!

Most gardening products of organic or beyond seem to be things that can be developed for free in a slower or more difficult method.

I'd throw them in the ground and only inoculate if I knew I had a serious nitrogen issue!

Best of luck.