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 had the highest grain yield of the pulse species evaluated, averaging 2.1 t/ha. APB BondiA was the standout variety at 2.4 t/ha.
• Albus lupins were the next best pulse, with both Luxor and Murringo yielding 1.8 t/ha.
• Chickpeas were the highest yielding of the high value pulses at 1.5 t/ha, with similar yield for early sown faba beans.
• Lentil yield from machine harvest was ~0.8 t/ha, but a hand cut sample two weeks earlier (mature but not quite ready to harvest) yielded more than double (~1.7 t/ha) the machine harvest. This highlights the potential for lentils, a high value pulse option, the importance of timely harvest, and the challenges of picking up lentils from the ground with the header.
• Field peas had the highest peak biomass (related to N-fix) at 8.6 t/ha, with chickpeas second highest (5.0 t/ha). All other pulse species grew <5 t/ha biomass (measured at 30–50% podding).
• Nitrogen was applied to selected varieties of each species and had little effect on yield or seed nitrogen concentration. The nitrogen application was included to enable a comparison of N-fixation in a high N environment between species.
• Seed nitrogen concentration was highest in albus lupins and lowest in chickpeas. Seed N concentration is important when calculating the nitrogen balance (N-fixation – N removed) of a pulse crop.
• As a comparison with the pulse species, canola yielded 0.5 t/ha and wheat yielded 2.4 t/ha (low N fertility) to 3.4 t/ha (high N fertility).