Managing frost and heat in lentil and faba bean

2019

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Lachlan Lake
Contact email lachlan.lake@sa.gov.au
Year(s) 2019
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
SA, SA
Managing frost and heat in lentil and faba bean locations
Aims

Pulses are growing in popularity as a result of good prices and rotational benefits such as decreased N input and enhanced grass weed control options. However frost and combinations of water and heat stress at critical growth stages can compromise crop yield. Previous work in pulses has established that the most important time to maintain growth and limit stress is the period around pod set. Sowing date and variety choice are the two main tools to manipulate time of flowering and pod-set, and thus manage the risk of extreme temperatures, water stress and the trade-off between frost and heat risk.

This research aims to identify the safer temperature windows for the critical period for yield for faba bean and lentil in cropping regions of southern Australia. This work follows on from EPFS Summary 2016 p62, EPFS Summary 2017, p146 and EPFS Summary 2018, p62.

Key messages

• Pulses are more vulnerable to yield loss from heat and frost stress in a critical period centred around early podding.

• Sowing time and variety choice are crucial to reduce risk of stress at this stage.

• We define the safer window for the critical period as less than 10% chance of frost (0oC in the Stevenson screen) and less than 30% chance of heat (>34oC in the Stevenson screen).

• In environments of upper Eyre Peninsula, such as Minnipa, there is limited frost risk, hence early sowing will minimise heat risk and maximise potential yield.

• However, at sites such as Laura (Mid North), there is a safer window after frost and before heat.

• Results should be considered in conjunction with grower specific conditions and the trade-off between early sowing, weed and disease management and rainfall.

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA 2019 Faba beans

The trial was a factorial split plot design with sowing date allocated to main plots and variety to subplots.

 

Lead research organisation South Australian Research and Development Institute
Host research organisation South Australian Research and Development Institute
Trial funding source GRDC DAS00166
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Special thanks are given to Brenton Spriggs, Sue Budarick, Amanda Pearce, Matthew Cadd and Annabel O’Dea for their collaboration with field and lab activities. This project is funded by and part of GRDC-SARDI Bilateral DAS 00166.


Other trial partners Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Faba beans Grain Legume: Lentils
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Adverse Effects Management: Frost
  • Adverse Effects Management: Heat
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Faba beans

Sow date 20 April 2019 20th April 2019
Harvest date Unknown
Plot size 1m x 1m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Split
Plot randomisation Random

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified

SA 2019 Faba beans

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified

SA 2019 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Clay loam
SA, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
SA, SA Chromosol
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 Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA SA SA
2019 466.3mm564.6mm
2018 508.3mm581.1mm
2017 542.1mm604.9mm
2016 507.1mm593.5mm
2015 495.9mm562.0mm
2014 541.0mm590.7mm
2013 458.7mm581.5mm
2012 506.5mm588.9mm
2011 543.2mm603.1mm
2010 532.9mm602.9mm
2009 530.7mm589.7mm
2008 437.3mm560.7mm
2007 431.4mm580.7mm
2006 461.6mm587.1mm
2005 442.2mm599.5mm
2004 442.3mm577.6mm
2003 448.1mm570.6mm
2002 448.1mm541.3mm
2001 487.6mm531.0mm
2000 461.5mm521.5mm
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.

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

SA SA

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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SA SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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 last modified: 19-05-2023 14:45pm AEST