| Researcher(s) |
Kate Coffey |
|---|---|
| Year(s) | 2019 |
| Contributor | Riverine Plains |
| Trial location(s) |
Bungeet, VIC
St James, VIC |
The demonstration trials in this report were sown as part of a GRDC investment aiming to improve the nitrogen fixation of winter pulse crops and to promote their wider adaptation and adoption. The project involves promoting effective inoculation and pulse management practices, raising awareness and knowledge around pulse nodulation and nitrogen fixation as well as the impact of soil acidity on crop yields.
• Where there was no paddock history of chickpea and an absence of suitable rhizobia, doubling the inoculation rate resulted in the highest level of nodulation.
• A lentil crop sown in a paddock (pH 4.8–5.2) with a low background level of lentil rhizobia had good nodulation, demonstrating that not all paddocks are responsive to inoculation.
• At St James, the combination of seed inoculation and Calciprill® (granulated calcium carbonate) at depth resulted in the greatest yield in chickpeas grown on an acid soil, however multiple factors may need to be addressed to capture yield benefits
| Lead research organisation | N/A |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | GRDC |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments |
Increasing the effectiveness of nitrogen fixation in pulse crops through extension and communication of improved inoculation and crop management practices in the southern region is a GRDC investment led by Mallee Sustainable Farming Systems. The author also wishes to acknowledge the technical assistance provided by Ross Ballard and Liz Farquharson (SARDI). Thank you to our farmer co-operators, the Gall family (St James) and the Alexander family (Bungeet). |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop types | Grain Legume: Faba beans Grain Legume: Chickpeas Grain Legume: Lentils |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Demonstration |
| Trial design | Not applicable |
| Sow date | 7 May 2019 |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | 6 December 2019 |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
| Sow date | 6 May 2019 |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | 19 December 2019 |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
| Sow date | 6 May 2019 |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | 20 November 2019 |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
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.
