Pulses in the Mallee 2015
Jason Brand
Agriculture Victoria, DEDJTR, PB260, Horsham, Vic, 3401
Peer review: Reviewer, Affiliation/Organisation
Background
The Southern Pulse Agronomy program conducts a wide range of agronomic and
variety pulse trials across all rainfall zones of south-eastern Australia. Its primary aim is
to improve yield and yield stability, ultimately leading to increased profitability and
adoption of new varieties by growers. In this report, key results from selected trials
conducted in the southern (Curyo) and central (Kulwin) Mallee 2015 are highlighted.
Why was the project done?
Lentils
Recently a range of higher yielding lentil varieties were released, with improvements in a range of agronomic traits
including biomass development, canopy structure, disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, maturity and pod
retention. In addition, growers are sowing crops earlier to maximise yield potential and reduce risks of heat and
terminal drought stress, particularly in the Mallee. Research in 2015 focused on identifying potential advantages
of lower seeding rates for these new varieties, without incurring yield penalties.
Field Peas
Peas, similar to all pulses, can be a key component in the effective weed management strategies used in modern
farming systems. They are particularly useful for controlling grasses as most varieties allow crop-topping prior to
harvest. Recently in the breeding program, several higher yielding blue pea lines were developed as potential
replacements for Excel. Research in 2015 investigated the impacts of crop-topping and delayed harvesting on the
yield and quality of peas, particularly in blue peas, which can be susceptible to bleaching.
Chickpeas
Trials in the last few years have demonstrated the profitability of slightly larger sized Kabuli chickpeas, such as
PBA Monarch in the southern Mallee. Trials in 2015 continued to assess the performance of a number of new
breeding lines in drier environments.
Faba Beans
In the breeding program, several lines with significant improvements in yield in dry areas have been identified.
Improved moisture conservation techniques mean that beans may be considered within the farming system,
particularly as they are one of the best nitrogen fixing pulses. In 2015, a number of new breeding lines were tested
with varied nutritional and inoculation treatments to maximise yields.
Lupins
In 2015, the agronomy program worked with the breeding program to identify novel new germplasm specifically
suitable for south eastern Australia. At the central Mallee site, a range of breeding lines were assessed to identify
those more suitable for the modern farming systems used in these regions.
The Southern Pulse Agronomy program is funded by GRDC (DAV00113), AgVic, SARDI and NSWDPI. It undertakes
a range of agronomic trials to ensure that the benefits of new pulse varieties are maximised and delivered to
growers. Further details relating to trial methodology and other measurements recorded will be available in a
detailed report early in 2016.
1 Key messages






Prices for all pulse crops were very high, ensuring profitable returns for many crops. Lentils, in particular
have traded at record levels around $1400/t in some cases. Growers always need to be aware of possible
price swings in all pulse crops, for example the long term price for lentils is between $500 and $600/t.
A new isolate of ascochyta blight was discovered at Curyo in 2015 which has virulence on previously
resistant chickpea varieties. Growers are encouraged to closely monitor all chickpea crops in 2016 and
use a preventative fungicide strategy to minimise the risk of disease.
Based on 2015, seeding rate of lentils in the Mallee could be lowered from 120 to 80 plants/m2, particularly
with new disease resistant varieties sown early. Results for faba beans in the Mallee and south west
indicate maintaining densities above 20 plants/m2.
The yield stability of a variety like PBA Jumbo2 was highlighted in 2015 as it was the highest yielding
commercial variety in all southern pulse agronomy trials. In lentils it is important to choose a variety that
minimise disease risks and can be sown early to maximize yield potential.
The performance of several new faba bean lines identified for improvements in drought resistance was
excellent at Curyo in 2015, with a line achieving yields of 0.75t/ha, 50% higher than Farah and PBA Samira.
Dry conditions in 2015 will again mean residual herbicides are more likely to persist into 2016. Growers
may need to take this into consideration when selecting paddocks and varieties for 2016.
Trial Details
Locations: Curyo and Kulwin
Soil type/s: See tables 2 and 3
Annual rainfall: Curyo – 195mm, Kulwin - 216mm
GSR (Apr-Oct): Curyo - 133mm, Kulwin - 146mm
Crop types: See table 1.
Sowing dates: Curyo - 30 April and May 1, Kulwin - 24 April; May
Sowing system: Inter-row with narrow points and press wheels in a no-till system (row spacing: Kulwin – 30cm;
Curyo – 36.5cm).
Harvest dates: 10 November
Table 1. Overview of agronomic trials (highlighted cells) at Curyo and Kulwin in 2015.
Lentils
Agronomic
Treatment
Curyo
Kulwin
Field Pea
Curyo
Kulwin
Chickpeas
Curyo
Kulwin
Faba Beans
Curyo
Kulwin
Lupins
Kulwin
Plant Density
Novel Breeding
Lines
Nutrition
Inoculants
Harvest timing
Crop Topping
2 Soil Characteristics and Climate
Curyo
Seeding into dry soil delayed establishment.
Table 2. Characterisation of the sandy loam soil at Curyo 2015.
Depth
NH3-N
NH3-N
P
K
S
OC
EC
pH
pH
CaCO3
(cm)
(mg/k
g)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(%)
(dS/m)
(CaCl2)
(H20)
(%)
0-10
6.8
10.6
38
592
11
1.08
0.21
7.3
8.0
na
10-20
4.4
5.6
12
413
10
0.66
0.22
7.8
8.5
na
20-40
3
2.4
6
351
17
0.24
8.2
9.2
na
40-60
2
2.0
4
412
31
0.29
8.2
9.4
na
60-100
1.6
2.0
4
484
47
0.50
8.3
9.4
na
Depth
Cu
Fe
Mn
Zn
Exc Al
Exc
Mg
Exc K
Exc
Na
B
(cm)
(mg/k
g)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
0-10
0.5
13
16.4
1.2
0.1
14.6
3.5
1.5
0.4
1.7
10-20
0.9
15
5.7
0.3
0.1
17.3
5.2
1.1
1.1
2.8
20-40
1.3
16
3.1
0.2
0.1
15.8
7.1
0.9
2.7
6.4
40-60
1.2
15
2.0
0.2
0.1
11.2
7.8
1.0
5.1
13.6
60-100
0.9
14
1.6
0.2
0.1
8.4
7.6
1.2
7.7
20.5
Exc
Ca
(mg/kg)
Table 3. Temperatures and Rainfall at Curyo 2015.
Min Temps (OC)
Month
Ave
Max Temps (OC)
Low
Ave
Monthly
Curyo
LT Ave
Jan
14.7
8.1
32.0
44.8
46.6
22.3
Feb
16.1
9.4
34.5
43.4
5
25
Mar
10.8
3.4
27.6
39.7
2.2
21.7
Apr
8.2
3.2
22.5
32.7
20.8
25.1
May
7.1
2.2
19.1
25.2
18.4
38.5
Jun
4.7
-1.3
14.9
19.6
42.8
37.3
Jul
3.5
-2.2
13.9
16.8
20.6
36.5
Aug
4.6
-0.9
15.6
22.3
11.4
39.5
Sep
4.5
-0.9
19.9
31.8
16
37.1
Oct
10.5
1.8
29.9
38.5
3.4
35.7
Nov
Dec
11.7
4.0
29.9
41.2
8.2
Total
195.4
29.2
25.2
373.1
GSR (A-O)
133.4
249.7
1. Data to Dec 22; 2. Long term average at Beulah (1895-2015)
3 Rainfall (mm)
Kulwin
Seeding into a moist seed bed ensured rapid establishment.
Table 4. Characterisation of the loamy sand soil at Kulwin 2015.
Depth
NH3-N
NH3-N
P
K
S
OC
EC
pH
pH
CaCO3
(cm)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(%)
(dS/m)
(CaCl2)
(H20)
(%)
0-10
5.8
7.2
26
381
9
0.52
0.12
6.6
7.3
0.5
10-20
5.6
9.2
10
402
9
0.38
0.18
7.2
8.0
4.1
20-40
4
2.6
7
417
14
0.27
7.7
8.7
11.1
40-60
3.8
1.7
4
439
39
0.49
8.1
9.2
16.7
60100
2.2
2.3
5
460
70
0.55
8.1
9.3
15.5
Depth
Cu
Fe
Mn
Zn
Exc Al
Exc Mg
Exc K
Exc Na
B
(cm)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
0-10
1.2
14
20.0
0.6
0.2
6.0
2.4
0.9
0.5
1.2
10-20
1.5
12
7.4
0.2
0.2
8.4
5.2
1.0
1.7
2.7
20-40
2.1
13
4.2
0.1
0.2
10.1
6.2
1.1
3.2
7.3
40-60
1.8
13
2.2
0.1
0.2
9.0
5.7
1.1
4.5
13.6
60100
1.6
11
1.4
0.1
0.2
8.1
5.7
1.1
6.0
18.8
Exc Ca
(mg/kg)
Table 5. Temperatures and Rainfall at Ouyen 2015 (representative of the Kulwin site).
Min Temps (OC)
Max Temps (OC)
Rainfall (mm)
Month
Ave
Low
Ave
Monthly
Ouyen
LT Ave2
Jan
16.9
9.7
31.7
43.9
29.8
21
Feb
16.6
10.6
35.0
43.4
5.6
24.2
Mar
12.0
6.6
27.9
39.2
0.4
19.8
Apr
9.4
5.4
22.1
32.6
37.9
21.9
May
7.6
2.5
19.4
25.1
22.4
31.4
Jun
5.3
0.5
15.3
21.1
30.9
29.4
Jul
3.4
-1.4
14.6
18.4
18
30.5
Aug
5.3
0.6
16.6
24.1
13.8
32.1
Sep
5.9
1.2
21.0
32.1
12.4
32.4
Oct
11.8
4.1
30.4
37.9
10.3
34.2
Nov
13.0
6.3
29.5
41.2
33.2
28
Dec
17.4
5.9
34.3
43.2
1.7
25.6
Total
216.4
330.5
GSR (A-O)
145.7
211.9
1
1. Data to Dec 22; 2. Long term Average (1911-2015)
4 Results and discussion
Lentils
Estimated sowing rates in kg/ha targeting 120 plant/m2 varied from 43kg/ha for PBA HurricaneXT to 79kg/ha for
the larger seeded green lentil PBA Giant (Table 6). Growers are advised to check seed size for 2016 sowing and
adjust sowing rates accordingly.
Due to historically high grain prices, a lentil crop producing 0.3t/ha in 2015 could ‘break even’ or be profitable,
depending on input costs. At Kulwin all varieties were profitable, and at Curyo only PBA Giant made a loss. Lentils
were the most profitable crop at both trial sites, producing up to $653/ha at Kulwin and $433/ha at Curyo (Table
7A). Growers always need to be aware of possible price swings and to remember that the long term price for lentils
is between $500 and $600/t.
Average grain yields were generally higher at the central Mallee site, Kulwin (0.6t/ha), followed by the southern
Mallee, Curyo (0.5t/ha), and the Wimmera (0.1t/ha; data not shown). CIPAL0901 had the highest yields at both trial
sites in 2015 (0.84t/ha at Kulwin and 0.66t/ha at Curyo; Table 2). CIPAL0901 is an early maturing line (significantly
earlier than all other varieties in the trial) that always performs well in extremely dry/short seasons like 2015, but
long-term yields are more than 10 per cent lower than newer varieties such as PBA Jumbo2 and PBA Bolt. In
addition, its disease resistance characteristics have not attained the desired level. New lines with consistently high
yields, herbicide tolerance, good biomass, disease resistance and maturity similar to CIPAL0901 will be available
in the next few years. PBA Jumbo2 was the highest yielding commercial variety in 2015, with yields not significantly
different from CIPAL0901. This indicates the continuing yield stability of PBA Jumbo2. It has also performed
extremely well in better seasons and is currently the highest yielding variety across south eastern Australia in the
long term. In addition, it has good resistance to ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould lowering the risks of
disease when sown.
Due to the dry season, varieties were unable to produce full canopies as would be expected in a year with average
rainfall. As a result, it was anticipated that there would be no significant interaction between varieties and seeding
rates. However, at Curyo there was a significant response to plant density across all varieties, meaning that they
all showed a similar trend (as indicated in Table 2B). All sowing rates produced similar yields, except at 40
plants/m2, where it was significantly lower. The sowing rate results suggest that, lowering the seeding rate of lentils
in the Mallee, from 120 pl/m2 to 80 pl/m2 is possible, but significant yield reductions could occur below 80 pl/m2.
Results from the trial site at Kulwin indicate significant opportunities for lentils in central Mallee on suitable soil
types. This trial was conducted on the better soils of the mid slope zone. Further work will need to occur to
understand the response of lentils across the tops of sand hills and the heavier flats. Currently, it is important to
always choose the better soil types to minimise crop failure in lentils, particularly avoiding sub-soil constraints.
Table 6. Seed weight of varieties sown in sowing rate trials at Kulwin and Curyo in 2015 and kg/ha required to
achieve 120 plants/m2.
5 Variety
Seed Weight
g/100 seed
Sow Rate
(kg/ha)
Nipper
3.7
44
PBA Flash
5.0
60
PBA Ace
4.3
51
CIPAL0901
4.6
55
PBA Greenfield
5.4
64
PBA Jumbo2
5.4
65
PBA Giant
6.6
79
CIPAL1405
4.9
59
PBA HurricaneXT
3.6
43
PBA Bolt
4.4
52
Table 7. The mean grain yield and estimated net returns of lentils in sowing rate trials at Kulwin and Curyo in 2015.
A. All varieties (across all sowing rates) B. Sowing rates (across all varieties).
Net return based on Production costs of $290/ha + $1.20/kg seed sown and Returns on grain of $1200/t.
A.
Variety
CIPAL0901
Kulwin
Grain Yield
Net Return
(t/ha)
($/ha)*
0.84
$653
Curyo
Grain Yield
(t/ha)
0.66
Net Return
($/ha)*
$433
0.63
$388
PBA Jumbo2
0.74
PBA HurricaneXT
0.64
$431
PBA Ace
0.59
$354
0.40
$126
PBA Flash
0.57
$321
0.63
$394
PBA Bolt
0.51
$254
PBA Greenfield
0.32
$17
0.31
$0
CIPAL1405
0.31
$17
0.45
$185
Nipper
0.36
$89
PBA Giant
0.28
-$47
0.14
8.9
LSD (P<0.05)
CV%
B.
Sowing Rate
(pl/m2)
$523
Kulwin
Establishment
(pl/m2)
0.06
3.3
Curyo
Establishment
(pl/m2)
Grain Yield
(t/ha)
Grain Yield
(t/ha)
40
37
0.60
38
0.42
80
74
0.62
77
0.47
120
109
0.55
109
0.49
160
133
0.55
145
0.48
200
164
0.52
173
0.47
LSD (P<0.05)
ns
0.05
CV%
8.9
3.3
Field Peas
The trial at Kulwin was not affected by the crop topping treatment because of the extremely dry season and hot
days in October. Similar to the lentils, sites were harvested earlier than has been observed previously.
Grain yields of peas ranged from 0.75t/ha for Kaspa to 1.30t/ha for Sturt (Table 8). Similar to long term results,
PBA Pearl and PBA Wharton were two of the highest yielding varieties in the trial.
It was expected that Sturt would perform well, as it has consistently in dry seasons. Yields from the new blue pea
line OZB1308 were not significantly different from the highest yielding varieties, indicating potential for blue types
in dry areas.
Field peas were profitable at Kulwin in 2015, with return up to $350/ha.
6 Table 8. The mean grain yield and estimated net returns of field peas in a crop topping trial at Kulwin in 2015.
Net return based on Production costs of $230/ha and Returns on grain of $450/t.
Variety
Grain Yield (t/ha)
Net Return ($/ha)*
Sturt
1.30
$354
PBA Pearl
1.27
$342
PBA Wharton
1.26
$338
OZB1308
1.21
$312
PBA Oura
1.19
$304
OZP1101
1.00
$218
PBA Gunyah
0.99
$216
Kaspa
0.75
$108
LSD (P<0.05)
0.2
CV%
6
At Curyo both trials were affected by P-Pickle T toxicity, which is a variety-specific phytotoxic response to the
application of the seed dressing. This seed dressing was applied to all seed sown in the research program. The
trial clearly demonstrated a range of responses to the application of P-pickle T, which in affected varieties reduced
establishment and early vigour (Table 9). The old blue pea variety Excell was severely affected by this toxicity,
which significantly reduced establishment and vigour. PBA Pearl and OZB1308 were moderately affected, while
all other varieties showed no significant effects.
Grain yields of field peas were generally less at Curyo than Kulwin, but were still at profitable levels, ranging from
0.90t/ha for a new blue pea line, OZB1315 to 0.28t/ha for Excell. PBA Wharton and PBA Pearl performed similar
to the highest yielding lines, even though PBA Pearl was significantly affected by the P-Pickle-T toxicity.
Another trial investigated the effects of delayed harvest resulting in significant bleaching (Table 10). Varieties
showed significantly different bleaching responses to the harvest timings, not for grain yield. The lines OZB1315
and OZB1308 appeared to have better resistance to bleaching than Excell and other lines in the trial (Table 10).
Table 9. Establishment, early vigour, grain yield and estimated net returns of selected field peas in variety trial at
CURYO in 2015 focussing on blue peas.
Net return based on Production costs of $230/ha and Returns on grain of $450/t.
Variety
Establishment
Vigour
Grain Yield
Net Return
(pl/m2)
(1, poor vigour -9, excellent vigour)
(t/ha)
($/ha)*
OZB1315
41
6.7
0.90
$174
OZB1309
44
7.0
0.89
$170
PBA Wharton
39
7.0
0.87
$162
PBA Pearl
32
3.3
0.86
$158
Bluey
44
6.3
0.70
$84
OZB1308
37
3.7
0.65
$63
Maki
41
7.0
0.65
$60
Excell
20
1.0
0.28
-$106
LSD (P<0.05)
8
1
0.15
CV%
1.4
3.4
9.1
Table 10. Bleaching score at each of the three harvest dates and grain yield of field peas in a harvest timing trials
variety trial at CURYO in 2015 focusing on blue peas.
Bleaching Score (0, no damage-100, all seed
Grain Yield
bleached)
Variety
(t/ha)
Oct 30
Nov 9
Nov 16
OZB1315
0.79
5
16
28
OZB1324
0.74
10
42
55
OZB1308
0.74
5
26
33
OZB1310
0.51
3
34
53
Excell
0.23
2
42
57
LSD (P<0.05)
0.08
8
7.8
2.2
CV%
7 Chickpeas
At Curyo, despite the relatively dry season, in early August a significant outbreak of Ascochyta blight was observed
in the kabuli chickpea trial (Figure 1). Symptom assessment indicated that this isolate of ascochyta was different
from those observed previously in Victorian trials, having virulence on resistant lines such as Genesis090 and PBA
Slasher. From the results in this trial, there appears to be some differences in resistance to this isolate with
CICA1454 showing fewer symptoms and PBA Striker, being significantly affected (Figure 1). The isolate from this
trial has been provided to pathologists and early glasshouse assessments appear to confirm field ratings.
In response to the early outbreak, a fortnightly fungicide strategy was implemented over half of each plot, while
the other half was left unsprayed, to allow for assessment of disease severity on grain yield. Unfortunately, due to
the dry finish to the season, plants were able to ‘grow away’ from initial symptoms and the disease did not spread
into the upper canopy throughout late September and spring in the ‘unsprayed’ section of the plots. The low yield
potential meant that it was impossible to assess whether disease had any effect on the grain yield. As a result,
plots were harvested in their entirety.
Despite the disease incursion, Genesis090 was the highest yielding variety at Curyo (Table 11), similar to several
breeding lines and PBA Striker (which was the most disease affected variety). At the time of writing, grain size had
not been assessed and an economic return cannot be accurately provided. However, given the high grain prices,
and historical grain sizing, a return of more than $200/ha could be expected from 0.5t/ha of Genesis090.
At Kulwin, crop topping had no effect on the chickpeas, because of the dry and hot finish to the season. Unlike at
Curyo, the desi varieties, PBA Slasher, PBA Striker and PBA Maiden all had slightly higher yields than Genesis090
(Table 11).
Figure 1. Ascochyta blight score in the medium sized Kabuli chickpea variety trial at Curyo 2015, recoded August
13 and September 9.
8 Table 11. Grain yield of chickpeas sown at Kulwin in a crop-topping trial and at Curyo in a medium sized Kabuli
variety trial 2015.
Kulwin
Curyo
Variety
Grain Yield
Variety
Grain Yield
(t/ha)
(t/ha)
PBA Slasher
0.45
Genesis090
0.51
0.45
CICA1156
0.49
PBA Striker
PBA Maiden
0.41
CICA1452
0.49
Genesis090
0.33
PBA Striker
0.49
PBA Monarch
0.28
CICA1454
0.45
LSD (P<0.05)
0.12
CICA1455
0.45
CV%
3.50
CICA1451
0.42
Almaz
0.38
CICA1352
0.38
CICA1453
0.36
Kalkee
0.33
PBA Monarch
0.29
LSD (P<0.05)
0.10
CV%
6.7
Faba Beans
At Curyo in 2015 all of the ‘AF12-‘series lines with improved dry area adaptation had higher grain yields than PBA
Samira, with AF12025 achieving 158 per cent of PBA Samira (Table 4). In addition, all of these lines displayed good
early vigour scores, were 7-11 days earlier flowering and had earlier maturity than PBA Samira.
In other trials at Curyo and Kulwin, neither inoculation nor foliar fertiliser treatments affected grain yield (data not
shown). The average yields were 0.8t/ha at Kulwin and 0.7t/ha at Curyo. Earlier in the season, there were
differences in nodulation in response to the various inoculation treatments. Further analysis aimed at
understanding the potential of these new products to improve nitrogen fixation in beans is ongoing. A sowing rate
experiment indicated that, consistent with recommendations, 20 pl/m2 is the optimum density to maximise grain
yield in beans.
Table 12. Early vigour, flowering date, relative maturity rating, grain yield and estimated net return of faba beans
sown at Curyo in variety trial focusing on lines with improved drought resistance in 2015.
Net return based on Production costs of $230/ha and Returns on grain of $450/t.
Variety
AF12025
AF12038
AF12028
AF09169
AF12045
PBA
Samira
Farah
AF07125
AF09167
AF10089
Nura
PBA Zahra
LSD
(P<0.05)
CV%
9 Vigour
(1, poor vigour -9, excellent
vigour)
7.3
7.0
7.7
6.3
6.7
7.0
6.3
5.7
6.7
6.0
6.7
6.3
Ns
3.2
Flowering
11 Aug
13 Aug
11 Aug
17 Aug
09 Aug
20 Aug
Maturity
Rating
(1 – early;
5 - late)
1
1
2
4
1
3
21 Aug
24 Aug
18 Aug
21 Aug
19 Aug
22 Aug
3
5
3
5
3
5
Grain Yield
(t/ha)
%Samira
Net
Return
($/ha)
0.76
0.67
0.63
0.54
0.50
0.48
158
140
131
113
104
100
$150
$105
$85
$40
$20
$10
0.47
0.46
0.44
0.37
0.36
0.35
0.16
98
96
92
77
75
73
$5
$0
-$10
-$45
-$50
-$55
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Table 13. Establishment and grain yield of the faba bean line AF09169 sown at various plant densities at Curyo
in 2015.
Grain Yield
Sow Rate
Establishment
2
pl/m (kg/ha)
(pl/m2)
(t/ha)
6
0.42
5 (28)
9
0.45
10 (56)
17
0.54
20 (112)
29
0.47
30 (168)
33
0.41
40 (224)
LSD (P<0.05)
12.7
0.08
CV%
11.8
7.5
Lupins
Grain yields of the early generation breeding lines at Kulwin generally ranged between 0.5 and 1t/ha. By
comparison, Mandelup achieved yields of 0.7t/ha.
Several of the lines with improved yield and agronomic characteristics will be selected for further assessment in
coming seasons, aiming to identify new material with improved stability in Mallee conditions.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by GRDC, AgVic, SARDI and NSWDPI (DAV00113). Thanks to the technical staff for
maintaining trials and collecting data. Thanks to our grower collaborators at Curyo and Kulwin for the use of land.
Contact details:
Dr Jason Brand
Senior Research Agronomist – Pulses, DEDJTR, 110 Natimuk Rd, Horsham, Victoria 3401
M: 0409 357 076; E: [email protected]
Twitter: @JasonBrand
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