Investment

In the past, one of the reasons for delaying the seeding of pulse crops has been due to the need for a double knock to reduce weed competition from staggered weed germination, however, the delayed sowing of pulses can result in lower yields (Larn et al., 2009). This is due to less growth and dry matter production during the growing season and temperature and moisture stress at grain fill.

This investment is focussed on increasing the productivity and reducing the risk of growing high value pulse crops (specifically lentil and chickpea) in the Central Wheatbelt of WA, specifically the medium rainfall zone (MRZ). Constraints to growing high value pulses in the MRZ of the WA Wheatbelt are the limited herbicide options available to use in crop and lack of soil moisture to make use of early sowing opportunities. These early sowing opportunities are vital to pulse adoption by ensuring maximum production and not impacting on the optimal cereal sowing time in the region and the stacking of two break-crops consecutively can also greatly improve weed and disease control in the following cereal crop.