Results

SAGIT Profitable Pulses Trial

Year 2 trial plan and results – 2019-20

Trial plan

Six replicated trials and two demonstration trials were sown in the Murray Plains district in 2019 near Angas Valley. The trials were developed through consultation with Murray Plains Farmers and with input from leading industry experts. Five replicated trials evaluating the leading commercial varieties of canola, chickpea, field pea, lentils and lupin were implemented along with an unreplicated faba bean demonstration

A vetch management trial was also established at the site to investigate the effect of gibberellic acid and the timing of application of dry matter production.  ProGibbSG was applied at 20g/ha either at seeding, early winter or late winter. There were four varieties of vetch included in the trial: Studenica, Volga, Timok and Morava. Dry matter was measured on 20 September 2019 when vetch varieties were in early pod development.

A second management trial was established to compare inoculation products. Chickpea (Genesis 090) was sown without inoculant, with a peat slurry (BASF Nodulator) or peat granule (TagTeam Granular). Both the slurry and granular inoculants were applied at the recommended and twice recommended rates. Peat slurry was also applied as an in-furrow liquid stream. All inoculation products were group N which is specific to chickpea.

All trials were sown on 23 May 2019 and with 50kg/ha of Granulock Z. Weeds were controlled with a knockdown application of glyphosate prior to cropping with in-crop grass weeds controlled with clethodim and haloxyfop. Broadleaf weeds were managed with pre-emergent herbicides specific to each crop. Insects were controlled with Trojan insecticide during spring. All trials were harvested on 18 November 2019.

Results

  • Low growing season rainfall restricted the yields of all break crops at Angas Valley in 2019
  • The best chickpea, field pea, lentil and faba bean varieties produced grain yields of 0.3-0.4 t/ha.
  • Lentils were the most profitable break crop option with PBA Hallmark producing a small positive gross margin.
  • Applying gibberellic acid to vetch did not affect overall production or canopy height.
  • Inoculating chickpea has a positive effect on nodulation but this did not result in yield benefits in 2019.

Contact Information

Adrian Bormann

President

0428 285 102

Our Newsletter