To evaluate the performance of different pulse species, canola and wheat under main and delayed sowing periods, and assess the impact of additional nitrogen management strategies on grain yield, biomass production, and nitrogen fixation.

• Field peas were the highest yielding pulse species evaluated, averaging
  1.2 t/ha. APB Bondi and PBA Taylor out-yielded PBA Butler by 0.4 t/ha.
• Albus lupin varieties Luxor and Murringo yielded double the narrowleaf
  variety PBA BatemanA, 1.0 t/ha compared to 0.5 t/ha.
• Chickpea grain yield averaged 0.7 t/ha, faba beans 1.2 t/ha and vetch
  1.1 t/ha from the main sowing time. Delayed sowing resulted in a
  significant increase in Samira faba bean yield (from 1.2 to 1.7 t/ha) and a
  significant reduction in vetch yield (from 1.1 to 0.3 t/ha).
• Faba beans, field peas and vetch had the highest peak biomass from the
  main sowing time (~4.7 t/ha).
• Delayed sowing of faba bean, albus lupin and vetch resulted in a
  reduction in peak biomass.
• A nitrogen application treatment (+N) was included to enable a
  comparison of N-fixation in a high N environment between species.
  Nitrogen was applied to selected varieties of each species and had
  no effect on yield or seed nitrogen concentration. Biomass of the +N
  treatments compared to Nil N was lower in Samira faba bean and
  Studenica vetch, while it was higher in Luxor albus lupins.
• As a comparison with the pulse species, canola yielded 0.4 t/ha and
  wheat yielded 3.0 t/ha.
• Seed nitrogen concentration was highest in albus lupins and lowest
  in chickpeas and field peas. Seed N concentration is important when
  calculating the nitrogen balance (N-fixation – N removed) of a pulse crop.