The best return on investment: inoculating or topdressing pulses?

2013

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) De-Anne Ferrier (BCG)
Laura Watson (CSIRO)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Watchupga East, VIC
The best return on investment: inoculating or topdressing pulses? locations
Aims
To evaluate the effect and profitability of inoculation and/or nitrogen topdressing on chickpeas and field peas.
Key messages
Topdressing pulses with nitrogen does not pay; inoculation does. Nitrogen topdressing of pulses resulted in little or no net growth or yield benefit. Inoculating pulses is most effective if the soil is moist and if residual soil nitrogen and soil rhizobia populations are low. The current study indicated that a return on investment of up to $60 can be achieved from the inoculation of chickpeas in the absence of soil rhizobia.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00146
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments The assistance of Dr Matthew Denton and Liz Drew (SARDI) was greatly appreciated.
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Grain Legume: Chickpeas
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Seed treatment: Inoculant
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Watchupga East 2013

Sow date 4 July 2013
Harvest date 9 December 2013
Plot size 1.8m X 14m
Plot replication 5
Fertiliser 7 August - 23kg/ha of Nitrogen on relevant treatments
Herbicide 4 June - Triflur X (1.5L/ha) + Weedmaster Duo (2L/ha) 4 June - Simazine 500 (550g/ha) + Balance 750 WG (80g/ha) (Chickpeas only) 8 August - Select (500ml/ha) + Verdict 520 (100ml/ha) + Hasten 1%
Insecticide 4 October - alpha-cypermethrin (300ml/ha) 21 October - alpha-cypermethrin (300ml/ha)
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

@T1: Early Flowering @T2: Peak
# Variety
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Treatment 3
Income ($/ha) Return on investment ($/ha) Grain yield (t/ha) Biomass (t/ha) Biomass (t/ha)
1 Twilight Field pea Nil inoculent nil N 312 1.04 1.89
1 Twilight Field pea Group E inoculent nil N 324 2.7 1.08 1.79
2 Twilight Field pea Nil inoculent 23 kgN/ha 297 -0.6 0.99 1.83
2 Twilight Field pea Group E inoculent 23 kgN/ha 318 0.2 1.06 1.67
3 Twilight Chickpea Nil inoculent nil N 408 1.02 0.38
3 Twilight Chickpea Group N inoculent nil N 680 60 1.7 0.81
4 Twilight Chickpea Nil inoculent 23 kgN/ha 504 4 1.26 0.81
4 Twilight Chickpea Group N inoculent 23 kgN/ha 644 8 1.61 0.87
5 Striker
5 Striker
6 Striker
6 Striker
7 Striker
7 Striker
8 Striker
8 Striker

Grain yield t/ha


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Biomass t/ha


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Income $/ha


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Return on investment $/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Watchupga East, VIC Sand, Clay
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Watchupga East, VIC Calcarosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Watchupga East VIC
2013 512.9mm
2012 557.4mm
2011 596.9mm
2010 551.9mm
2009 493.6mm
2008 479.5mm
2007 519.3mm
2006 547.1mm
2005 592.9mm
2004 536.9mm
2003 542.5mm
2002 501.5mm
2001 552.0mm
2000 524.7mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Watchupga East VIC

CAUTION: Trial site locality unknown; Climate data sourced from Birchip Cropping Group office location
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2013 trial report