• RR canola which was sown into plots to mimic wild radish produced 4.1 t/ha of biomass by maturity and reduced the seed yield of CBA Captain chickpea by 47% compared to weed free plots.
• Majority of the herbicides and herbicide mixtures registered 95-100% weed control efficiency against RR canola and produced similar seed yields to weed free plots. Application of flumetsulam 800 at 25g/ha at 4-5 node stage of chickpea reduced canola biomass by 99% and increased chickpea seed yield by 74%.
• Post-seeding pre-emergent application of a three-way mix of Simazine 900 835g + diuron 900 333g + isoxaflutole 750 100g/ha and post-emergent application of REDPI21 at 4-5 node stage caused significant seed yield loss of chickpea.
• Pre-emergent application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, terbuthylazine + isoxaflutole, and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole had no significant negative effect on root nodules of CBA Captain.

• Chickpea varieties - CBA Captain and Neelam showed similar competitiveness against broadleaf weeds. Competition of RR canola (mimicked wild radish) and broad leaf weeds with these varieties to maturity accumulated 4.2t/ha dry biomass and reduced chickpea seed yield by 35% compared to weed free plots.
• Majority of the herbicides and herbicide mixtures registered 95-100% weed control efficiency against RR canola and broadleaf weeds and yielded on par with weed free plots. Application of flumetsulam 800 at 25g/ha at 4-5 node stage of chickpea reduced canola/weed biomass by 69% and increased chickpea seed yield by 25%.
• Incorporated by sowing application (IBS) of herbicides/mixtures appeared safer than their post-seeding pre-emergent application (PSPE). IBS application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, terbuthylazine + isoxaflutole, and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole had no significant negative effect on root nodules of CBA Captain.

• Majority of the pre-emergent herbicides and herbicide mixtures registered 88-100% weed control efficiency against wild radish. Post-emergent application of flumetsulam 800 at 25g/ha alone at 4-5 node stage of chickpea reduced wild radish number by 86%.
• Interaction of post-emergent flumetsuam with pre-emergent herbicides/mixtures for wild radish control was positive, whereas for chickpea seed yield it was negative in majority of the cases.
• Pre-emergent application of flumioxzin alone and in mixture with other herbicides, BADPI21 and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole caused 21 to 41% loss in chickpea seed yield.
• Pre-emergent application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, terbuthylazine + isoxaflutole, and simazine + diuron + isoxaflutole had no significant negative effect on root nodules of CBA Captain.

• Management of Ascochyta remains critical to growing successful chickpea crops and application of an appropriate seed dressing followed by foliar fungicide 4-6 weeks later are essential first steps

• Ascochyta did not progress at this site in 2021 due to low rainfall during the warmer part of the season when temperature better suits disease development.
• Management of Ascochyta remains critical to growing successful chickpea crops and application of an appropriate seed dressing, followed by a foliar fungicide 4-6 weeks later is an essential first step.
• Overall, yields were very good with a site average of 1.70t/ha.

Management of Ascochyta remains critical to growing successful chickpea crops, and application of an appropriate seed dressing, followed by a foliar fungicide 4-6 weeks later is an essential first step.

• Peat-based inoculant methods (slurry or granules) had more root nodules than those that were not peat-based.
• Peat-based inoculant methods also had higher biomass until flowering.
• Nodulation and biomass differences did not lead to yield differences, likely due to low Spring temperatures.

• Peat-based inoculant methods (slurry or granules) had more root nodules than nil and ALOSCA® with fertiliser treatments.
• There were no biomass differences measured between any of the treatments at any stage in the season.
• Nodulation differences did not lead to yield differences, likely due to good growing conditions through most of the season.

• Dry sowing did not significantly compromise nodulation and nitrogen fixation in chickpea in 2019.
• Peat slurry and granular inoculants led to satisfactory nodulation and nitrogen fixation in dry and wet sowing conditions in 2019.
• Chickpeas inoculated with peat based or bentonite clay granule inoculant and sown either dry or into moisture provided similar growth and production in a subsequent wheat crop in 2020.
• No significant differences in final grain yield of wheat was observed between inoculant types of sowing times.
• Some differences were observed in plant growth where the previous chickpea crop had been inoculated compared to uninoculated however inoculant type had no effect on wheat growth.
• Wheat grain quality was better when grown after an inoculated chickpea crop compared to an uninoculated crop and would contribute to a higher quality grade.

• Trial showed legumes to be more susceptible to frosts and high temperatures during flowering than cereals and canola.
• When legumes grain prices are high, the revenues derived are competitive with conventional crops such as wheat, barley and canola.
• Growers can improve the agronomic skills required to successfully grow legume crops on their farms very quickly.
• Ongoing research and demonstration work are required to continue driving grower adoption of legume crops in Western Australia. Increased cropping diversity is an ongoing ambition for the entire grains industry.

• The combined Simazine and Isoxaflutole (Treatment 1) resulted in the lowest early weed counts, with
less than 30 w eeds per m 2 at four weeks post emergence.
• Simazine and Isoxaflutole (Treatment 1) had a profound impact on inhibiting Medic growth relative to
other treatment styles.
• Application of Isoxaflutole & Terbuthylazine (Treatment 2) completely mitigated all weed species
except the medic.

• There were no significant differences between herbicide treatments due to the low weed burden.
• Attention to detail and good planning is essential when growing high-value legumes in the region.

• Faba bean sown in 2019 significantly reduced Pratylenchus neglectus (root lesion nematode) numbers. Lentil and canola also reduced P. neglectus but to a lesser extent. This carried through to 2020 sown wheat where populations remained low.
• In 2019, faba bean was the lowest risk non-cereal option in the break crop phase to manage a late start or dry finish, although wheat outperformed all crop types in terms of yield and gross margin in 2019.
• Wheat sown in 2020 yielded more when sown after pulses (faba bean, lentil, chickpea) compared to when sown after canola or wheat,
• In a poor season or low rainfall situation the low nitrogen strategy (30N basal) offered the best returns, there was no yield response to higher rates of nitrogen applied in-season.
• Wheat after pulses had the greatest yield response to applied nitrogen.
• Protein response to nitrogen rate was higher in wheat-wheat compared to when sown after break crops.

• Grain yield was low across all high value legume treatments due to a combination of factors
• Attention to detail and good planning are essential to grow high value legumes in the region

2018 Season 

• While growing season conditions were dry and grain yields were low and therefore not profitable, both Bolt lentils and Gunyah field peas yielded highest of the 5 break crop species grown at the Salmon Gums demonstration site. Soil boron levels were relatively high at this site.
• Following waterlogged conditions in August, Bonito canola out yielded the 4 four legume break crop species grown at the Gibson demonstration site, with Samira faba beans a close second.
• The addition of an extra 72 Units of nitrogen (171L Flexi-N delivered in 3 incremental applications) to the 5 break crops at the Gibson demonstration site resulted in significant increases in yield and earnings before tax profit in both Bonito canola and Samira faba beans but made little difference to the performance of PBA Strikers chickpeas, Morava vetch and Jurien lupins. The addition of extra nitrogen to Faba beans lifted yield by an average of 0.763t/ha taking it to 2.473t/ha which was close to the average yield of un-topped-up canola (2.169t/ha).
• In terms of earnings before tax, the faba bean crop was the most profitable of the 5 break crops grown at Gibson. It is important to note though that the $800/tonne price seen for faba beans in February 2018 was well above both the five and ten year average for this crop.

2019 Season 

• Annual rainfall was well below average in 2019 at all 5 demonstration sites in the Esperance Port Zone and an unprecedented frost event in September affected crop flowering at the Ravensthorpe, Salmon Gums and Beaumont sites. It’s important these seasonal conditions are factored to in to interpretation of legume crop performance at these sites.
• Poor growing conditions at the Ravensthorpe demonstration site resulted in very low yields and none of the break crops grown were profitable. The State Government declared part of the Ravensthorpe Shire as water deficient on 7th May 2019 and further parts of the Shire on 13th February 2020.
• Reasonable rainfall in August stimulated germination of broadleaf weeds resulting in a higher than ideal weed burden in all break crop species strips at the Ravensthorpe site. This highlights the limited control options available for late weed germination in legumes.
• At the Coomalbidgup demonstration site while lupins yielded highest of the break crop species grown, they were not profitable, making an EBT tax loss. Chickpeas were the only profitable break crop species grown at this site; lower seasonal rainfall meant the waterlogging conditions that commonly prevail at this location were not a constraint on chickpea yield. An average rainfall year would likely result in chickpea yield losses due to their susceptibility waterlogging.
• Dry conditions at the start of the season at Coomalbidgup reduced herbicide efficacy but the site did not have a high background broadleaf weed pressure so competition was unlikely to have greatly reduced crop yield.
• Poor growing conditions at the Beaumont demonstration site, which entailed a dry start, a severe frost at flowering and a very dry finish resulted in none of the 5 break crops grown performing profitably. The dry start at this site affected plant establishment of the chickpeas and faba beans in particular. Seeding equipment issues handling the large seed size of the faba beans also reduced establishment of the beans.
• Poor growing conditions, which entailed 2 dry preceding years resulting in very low subsoil moisture at the start of the season, a dry start, a dry growing season, a severe frost at flowering and a dry finish meant that Scepter wheat yields were below average at the Salmon Gums demonstration site. There was no significant difference in wheat yields achieved between the 2018 break crop species treatments. Scepter was profitable after each of the 2018 break crop species except in those replicates following vetch. Wheat after lentils were most profitable with an EBT return of $50/ha, followed by wheat after field peas at $34/ha.
• At the Gibson Demonstration Site wheat following vetch grown in 2018 yielded highest and was therefore the most profitable. Wheat following faba beans and lupins grown in 2018 yielded next highest; their yields being statistically similar. Wheat in replicates following 2018 canola and chickpeas were similar and yielded lowest of the 2018 break crop species treatments.
• Wheat yield in replicates that received an additional 171L/ha of Flexi N in 2018 yielded higher than those that did not and as such were more profitable.
• Tissue test data and wheat yields achieved at the Gibson site suggested nitrogen carryover from 2018 to the 2019 cropping season had occurred. This was not reflected in the pre-seeding soil test data demonstrating the significance of low soil moisture in impeding soil nitrogen mineralization. These results emphasise the importance of understanding mineralization when interpreting soil test results in dry conditions and the merits of coupling autumn soil testing with in-crop tissue or soil testing to support in-crop nutrition decisions.

• Crop establishment, biomass, yield and harvest index of wheat was largely unaffected by break crop rotation from the previous two seasons.
• Wheat yield was above district average for both the light and heavy soil site which was not expected on the average decile 4 rainfall.
• Grain produced from wheat following a pulse-canola rotation had higher protein content compared to the canola-chickpea rotation.

• No crop type on any soil achieved optimum plant density at this site, with canola treatments having extremely poor establishment.
• Overall, wheat had a significantly higher biomass than canola, lupins or chickpeas.
• Wheat yields were average to above average for the area depending on the soil type, which is a favourable result given the average decile 4 growing season rainfall.
• Canola yielded extremely poorly and proved to be a risky crop choice for the given season and soil types

• Chickpea seed yield responded to 25-50 kg N/ha applied 18 weeks after sowing at Ridely in 2020
• Yield responses were not large enough to pay for the cost on applied nitrogen.
• Kabuli variety Gen090 produced similar yields to desi variety CBA Captain

• Chickpea seed yield responded to 50 kg N/ha applied 8 weeks after sowing at Grass Patch in 2020
• Higher rates did not increase yields when applied at 8 weeks after sowing or in a split application at 8 and 12 weeks after sowing.
• Within plot variation resulted in no significant difference in the gross margin.

The grain yield of wheat sown after pulses were 300 kg/ha higher on average compared to wheat sown after canola. The yield gap between the canola-wheat rotation and canola-pulse rotation was a result of reduced soil nitrogen levels following harvest of the break crop phase in 2018.

Biomass and grain yield performance of varieties differed between environments, particularly when there were major differences in soil characteristics and rainfall.

Key messages: There was a significant effect of deep ripping on both dry matter production and grain yield for all three crops. Conversely the was no significant effect of organic matter inputs in any of the trials.

These results are only preliminary and should not be used on their own. The effects of the different fungicides will require greater investigation before significant interpretation can be made.

These results are only preliminary and should not be used on their own. The effects of the different fungicides will require greater investigation before significant interpretation can be made.

Despite a dry finish, ascochyta blight progressed well, causing stem breakages and significant grain yield losses in most varieties. The new variety, PBA Royal had 45% of the plot with stem infections early in the season but recovered and had little grain yield losses compared to the full control treatment (Table 4). The breeding line CICA1454 had 15% less ascochyta blight infection compared to the closest named variety, offering hope of better ascochyta blight resistance.

Ascochyta blight infection was severe within this trial and resulted in almost complete plot death in multiple susceptible varieties. Grain yields were higher when disease was fully controlled. Interestingly, PBA Royal, a new variety with improved resistance produced the highest yields when diseases were fully controlled (2.44 t/ha) and not controlled at all (1.6 t/ha).

The trial faced numerous problems such as poor emergence in several lines, selective grazing by rabbits/hares and spray drift that confounded the fungicide applications. This trial was abandoned.

This trial was sown to showcase to growers, the viability of growing chickpeas in the region and evaluate varietal performance in the local conditions at Dookie 2019. Desi varieties were among top three of the highest yielding varieties. Grain yields were very good (0.90- 1.53 t/ha) considering the very dry finish at Dookie.

Chickpea ascochyta blight infection was low due to dry seasonal conditions, which were not conducive for high levels of disease infection at Hart, 2019. Harvestability, in terms of plant height, was not reduced where chickpea was intercropped with canola. However, intercropping chickpea with linseed in a mixed row arrangement decreased the plant height of chickpea. Grain yield of chickpea as a sole crop was greater than all intercropping treatments. Further work is required to determine if the costs of disease management, weed management and crop desiccation can be reduced by adopting mix species system.

Improved nutrition and inoculants improved biomass but not grain yields Desi chickpea, PBA Striker produced more biomass at flowering than kabuli varieties (Genesis 090 and Genesis 079).

Inoculant and MAP fertiliser increased plant height and biomass production. Further, inoculant and MAP fertiliser increased the height of the lowest pod, which increased their harvestability at Tooligie, 2019. Doubled rate of inoculant did not increase chickpea production compared to applying the standard rate at an economically viable level. Gibberellic acid did not influence plant height or biomass but decreased the grain yield of chickpea at Warnertown 2019.

Treatments were not significant on grain yield. Grain yields were very low in 2019 due to extremely dry seasonal conditions. The dry conditions may have restricted microbial growth, movement and uptake of the nutrients by the crop. Hence, results should be treated with caution.

Grain yields were generally disappointing for chickpeas in 2019, being unprofitable to harvest at Ouyen and relatively low yield at Horsham compared with other crops at the site. The season highlighted chickpeas poor adaptation to cool and frosty conditions during the reproductive phase. In these trials, consistent with previous work there is no clear link between flowering and maturity time and grain yield.

Chickpeas were the most profitable crop sown in spring producing estimated returns up to $900/ha. In comparison, many varieties sown autumn failed to produce a return. The new early flowering, cold tolerance trait may further improve yield and stability in spring sowing, once incorporated into more broadly adapted breeding material. In contrast faba bean was the most profitable crop overall, producing a gross margin of up $2800/ha, from high yield and grain prices received in late 2019.

Desi chickpea varieties CBA Captain, Neelam and PBA Striker, and Kabuli chickpea variety Genesis 079 showed good tolerance to a range of chickpea herbicides or herbicide mixtures at the label rates and timings with good crop safety margin.

A new herbicide Ultro® 900 WG at 1.1 kg/ha applied before seeding reduced seed yield of PBA Striker (9%) significantly.

Note: Always follow label recommendations. The Department Primary Industries and Regional Development, does not endorse the use of herbicides above the registered rate or off-label use of herbicides or off-label tank mixes. Crop tolerance and yield responses to herbicides are strongly influenced by seasonal conditions.

Desi chickpea varieties CBA Captain, Neelam and PBA Striker showed good tolerance to a range of chickpea herbicides or herbicide mixtures at registered rates and timings with good crop safety margin.

IBS application of simazine + Balance® appears safer than PSPE application especially on PBA Striker.

A new herbicide Ultro® 900 WG at 1.1 kg/ha IBS was tolerated well by all the varieties.

Note: Always follow label recommendations. The Department Primary Industries and Regional Development, does not endorse the use of herbicides above the registered rate or off-label use of herbicides or off-label tank mixes. Crop tolerance and yield responses to herbicides are strongly influenced by seasonal conditions.

Intercropping lentil and canola resulted in increased grain productivity at Wudinna, 2019. Intercrop combinations did not over-yield at Warnertown, 2019. Intercropping warrant exploring in low rainfall environments and their potential ancillary benefits, such as increasing groundcover on erosionprone soils, nitrogen fixation, and fodder production as a secondary end use benefit.

Soil treatments had no effect on grain yield. Varieties differed in biomass and grain yields.

When sowing was delayed until rains in May (Wet) overall grain yields in varieties decreased by 20 – 80% in lentil, 40 – 80% in chickpea and 30 – 60% in field pea compared to Early and Dry sowing in April.