Pulses 2018 — an update for southern NSW

Take home messages

• Three new pulse varieties were released by the Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) programs
• Poor seasonal conditions throughout the 2018 growing season in southern NSW limited yield potential.
• Disease incidence and severity were low during 2018.
• Where sub-surface acidity is detected, incorporate lime to a depth of 10cm, at least 12 months before sowing pulses (18 months in drier environments).
• Biosecurity alert – keep lupin anthracnose out of NSW.

2018 seasonal snapshot

• Three new pulse varieties were released by the Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) programs — a lentil, PBA Hallmark XT, and two faba bean, PBA Bendoc and PBA Marne. All varieties were released in the Southern Region in 2018 for grower availability in 2019. The pulse area sown in southern NSW was generally down on previous seasons due to the subdued price outlook combined with the dry autumn and late seasonal break. However, due to the resulting supply shortages, growers who persisted with their rotations have been able to take advantage of favourable market conditions across most of the pulse species, in particular faba bean, field pea and lupin.
• Poor seasonal conditions throughout the 2018 growing season in southern NSW limited yield potential. Low autumn rainfall delayed sowing and establishment of most species. With growing season rainfall at Wagga Wagga of 153mm or 52% below the long-term average of 322mm, low soil moisture restricted crop growth throughout the growing season (Figure 1). In addition, a number of severe frost events during winter and spring impacted on crop growth and pod set in some situations. The flowering and grain filling period of September-October was also extreme with below average rainfall and above average temperatures limiting yield potential.
• Disease incidence and severity were low across all species due to the dry seasonal conditions.
• Most southern NSW pulse crops are grown in soils where pH stratification and sub-surface acidity can affect root growth, nodulation, crop vigour and yield potential. Field observations show that severely acidic layers (pHCa < 4.5) are common at depths of 5–10cm and 10–15cm in the main cropping soils of central and southern NSW, but are not detected in soil samples collected at the standard sampling depths of 0–10cm and 10–20cm. Check for the presence of acidic layers by sampling soils at 5cm intervals to a depth of 20cm two years before sowing acid-sensitive pulses.
• Where sub-surface acidity is detected, the most rapid method to increase pH is to incorporate appropriate rates of fine grade lime to a depth of 10cm, at least 12 months before sowing pulses (18 months in drier environments). This will allow time for the lime to react and increase pH to the depth of incorporation.
• Biosecurity alert – keep lupin anthracnose out of NSW. Growers and processors buying hay and grain originating from WA or SA should ask for a vendor declaration that states it does not contain any lupin material. If not sure of the origin of the grain or hay, ask your supplier to confirm the origin. For advice on managing biosecurity risks and understanding entry requirements for NSW visit the NSW DPI webpage on Feed and Fodder.

·

Figure 1. Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute climate 2018. Source - Patched Point Data, Queensland Government.
LTA = long term average

Pulse overview

Pulse crop research based at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute occurs with co-investment from NSW DPI and GRDC, covering all aspects of pulse growing, from breeding and variety evaluation, to applied agronomy research. The aim is to improve yield, adaptation, disease resistance and seed quality of five winter pulses — field pea, lupin, chickpea, faba bean and lentil.

Current research

’The adaptation of profitable pulses in the central and southern zones of the Northern Grains Region’ (project code BLG112). This is a new pulse agronomy project funded through the NSW DPI Grains & Pathology Partnership (GAPP).

Unfortunately, results from 2018 were not available at the time of writing. These results will be presented at the 2019 Wagga Update and experiment reports will be published in the 2019 NSW DPI Southern Research Results.

This project aims to quantify and understand the phenological drivers of high value pulses in the central and southern environments of the Northern Grain Region (NGR). Research will focus on the Genotype x Environment x Management (GxExM) interactions of each species, examining three climatic environments at Wagga Wagga, Trangie and Yanco, and two high value pulses, chickpea and lentil. This project will quantify the effects of selected abiotic factors on plant phasic development, principally focusing on photoperiod and temperature effects.

This project aims to identify which phenotypes are best adapted to each of three agro-ecological environments and characterise crop phenology for current chickpea and lentil genotypes.

The first step is to conduct experiments in the three environments over multiple years, using the same genotypes, and to collect detailed crop phenology data. This data can be used to identify the key phenology traits driving adaptation across environments.

New information from this project will assist growers to make informed choices when selecting lentil and chickpea variety sowing dates so that the critical growth period occurs under optimal environment conditions. The project aims to deliver greater yield stability and improve confidence, adoption and profitability of these crops in central and southern NSW.

New pulse variety releases for 2019

Lentil - PBA Hallmark XT

PBA Hallmark XT builds on the success of the other herbicide tolerant red lentils, PBA Herald XT and PBA Hurricane XT. It is broadly adapted with 10% higher yields than PBA Hurricane XT across lentil growing areas of southern NSW (Table 1 and 2).

It incorporates the same tolerance to some Group B herbicides, but with higher grain yields than PBA Hurricane XT and improved agronomic characteristics. PBA Hallmark XT has greater early vigour, similar ratings for ascochyta blight and improved ratings for botrytis grey mould (BGM) compared with PBA Hurricane XT. These features, combined with its herbicide tolerance, will make PBA Hallmark XT a preferred variety in cropping systems in southern NSW.

PBA Hallmark XT is a medium red lentil so this variety can provide an alternative market class option to the popular small red lentil PBA Hurricane XT.

PBA Hallmark XT and PBA Hurricane XT have similar herbicide tolerance including:

• tolerance to applied imazethapyr at label rates*,
• improved tolerance to applied flumetsulam*, and
• improved tolerance to residual levels of sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicide from prior crops*.

* Note that permits, product label rates, plant back periods and all label directions for use must be adhered to.

Seed protection and royalties

PBA Hallmark XT is protected under Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) legislation. A PBR bag licence applies to the seed. Authorised growers can retain seed from production of PBA Hallmark XT for their own seed use. An End Point Royalty (EPR) of $5.94/t (including GST) applies to this variety when delivered to authorised EPR collectors, which includes breeder royalties and also the $0.44/t (including GST) herbicide technology royalty to Agriculture Victoria Services Pty Ltd. Seed is commercialised by PBSeeds and available from 2019.

Further details on the PB Seeds website.

National Variety Trial (NVT) yield data

Table 1. NVT long term results (2013–2017) for lentil in the south east (Wagga Wagga) of the southern NSW cropping zone. Yields are presented as a percentage of the site mean yield.

Table 2. NVT long term results (2013–2017) for lentil in the south west (Rankins Springs and Methul) of the southern NSW cropping zone. Yields are presented as a percentage of the site mean yield.

Faba bean – PBA Bendoc

PBA Bendoc is the first faba bean variety with a high level of tolerance to some imidazolinone (Group B) herbicides when applied post-emergence. This not only increases the in-crop options for broadleaf weed control, but also enables the variety to be grown where Group B (including the sulfonylureas) herbicide residues persist from applications to the previous crop.

PBA Bendoc is similar in time of flowering and maturity to Nura and PBA Samira, and has similar resistance to both pathotypes of ascochyta blight as these two varieties. It is susceptible to chocolate spot, which will have to be managed in higher rainfall and high biomass situations.

PBA Bendoc has similar yields to the major faba bean varieties grown in southern Australia and is resistant to ascochyta blight. Seed is small/medium in size and suited to the Middle East markets.

PBA Bendoc was only tested at three sites in southern NSW in 2016-2017 (Table 3), so results must be considered in a limited context. Two further sites were undertaken in 2018, however the NVT multi-environment trial (MET) analysis was not available at the time of writing. Individual site results for 2018 are available on www.nvtonline.com.au

Herbicide tolerance

PBA Bendoc is tolerant to some imidazoline herbicides when applied post crop emergence, up to the 6-node growth stage.

• Growers must adhere to all product label and current permit directions for use including rates, timing of application and plant back periods.
• Minor Use Permit PER14726 is available for post-emergence application of imazamox to faba bean crops.
• PBA Bendoc shows reduced sensitivity to some sulfonylurea herbicide residues from previous crop applications.

Seed protection and royalties

PBA Bendoc is protected by PBR legislation. Growers can only retain seed from production of PBA Bendoc for their own seed use.

An EPR of $4.29 per tonne (GST inclusive), which includes breeder royalty, applies upon delivery of this variety.

Further details on the Seednet website.

Faba bean – PBA Marne

PBA Marne is an early flowering, high yielding faba bean that has shown adaptation to the lower rainfall and short season areas throughout southern Australia, generally yielding more than current varieties. PBA Marne offers the potential to expand faba bean production into areas that are currently considered marginal and to improve reliability in established areas during below average rainfall seasons. Further validation of the performance of PBA Marne in the low to medium rainfall zones of central and southern NSW, across a range of soil types, is required to have confidence in its adaptability. The current Griffith NVT site is an irrigated site; therefore the only dryland site is the Stage 3 breeder’s trial at Wagga Wagga, which is in a medium rainfall area. Seed is light brown and medium in size and suitable for co-mingling with the current faba bean varieties for export to the major food markets in the Middle East.

Key features:

• Highest yielding faba bean available for short growing season areas in the Southern Region.
• Early flowering, particularly when sown early.
• Medium height plant with good standing ability.
• Resistant to pathotype 1 of ascochyta blight, but only moderately susceptible to the new pathotype 2 of ascochyta blight.
• Improved resistance to rust compared to other Southern Region varieties.
• Medium size seed, similar to PBA Samira and suited to the Middle East markets.

Seed protection and royalties

PBA Marne is protected by PBR legislation. Growers can only retain seed from production of PBA Marne for their own seed use.

An EPR of $3.85 per tonne (GST inclusive), which includes breeder royalty, applies upon delivery of this variety.

Further details on the Seednet website.

Table 3. NVT long term results (2013–2017) for selected faba bean varieties in southern NSW dryland sites. Yields are presented as a percentage of the site mean yield.

Further Information

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

NSW DPI & GRDC Bulletin: Legumes in acidic soils – maximising production potential in south eastern Australia, Burns H & Norton M

NSW DPI Winter crop variety sowing guide 2018

NSW DPI Weed control in winter crops 2018

Insect and mite control in field crops

Pulses: putting life into the farming system (case studies)

NSW DPI Southern NSW Research Results 2014

NSW DPI Southern NSW Research Results 2015

NSW DPI Southern NSW Research Results 2017

Various NSW DPI Crop Agfacts

www.pulseaus.com.au

Pulse Australia information on growing pulses including:

• Crop specific production guides.

www.nvtonline.com.au

Detailed NVT trial results and links to variety information.

www.grdc.com.au

Inoculating legumes: A practical guide - GRDC

GRDC GrowNotesTM

References

PBA Hallmark XT variety brochure (Sept. 2018)

PBA Bendoc variety brochure (Sept. 2018).

PBA Marne variety brochure (Sept. 2018).

Acknowledgements

The research undertaken as part of this project is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and the support of the GRDC — the author would like to thank them for their continued support.

Contact details

Mark Richards
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute
Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga 2650
0269 381831
mark.richards@dpi.nsw.gov.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries
@NSWDPI_Agronomy