• Grain yield was highest sown earlier; 1.2t/ha May 17 c.f. 0.7 t/ha June 6.  
   

• Well below average growing season rainfall did not provide favourable conditions for the development of blackspot, therefore there were no significant differences in grain yield between any treatments.  The mean yield across all varieties was 0.64 t/ha. 

• There were no significant differences in grain yield between treatments.  The mean yield across all varieties was 0.79 t/ha. 

• The inoculation treatments did not significantly affect the number of nodules per plant despite the paddock having no history of chickpea production.  However, field pea production was influenced by the treatments.

• Yields were relatively high at these sites in 2012, particularly given the drier than average growing season. Chickpeas performed particularly well, yielding equal to lentils at Minlaton
  and higher than lentils at Pinery. Yields may have been buoyed by the presence of stubble in all treatments, helping to conserved soil moisture, and the mild (although dry) finish to the season.

• Despite consistent stubble loads between treatments, differences in lodging (in all crops) and
  grain yield (field peas only) were generated between the three stubble heights at Pinery in 2013.
• In a similar trial in 2012, stubble treatments generated significant responses for biomass, maturity and grain yield.
• This supports previous work conducted by this project showing that the physical arrangement of stubble (ie standing versus slashed) can have a significant effect on the growth and performance of pulse crop types, as well as the amount of stubble present (ie retained versus removed).

• Our results show that stubble management (reduction in height from 40cm to 5cm) had no improvement on yield and lodging between crop types and varieties within a crop type under the seasonal conditions in 2014.

• there was a highly significant effect of sowing time across all varieties.

• Weather patterns experienced early in 2015 resulted in growers in many districts being advised by DAFWA’s Blackspot Manager Prediction model to delay sowing of field peas in SA. This sowing was often out of alignment with optimal sowing times based on best agronomic practice for some districts.
• Under high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field peas to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection. If field pea remains the preferred crop it is important that growers consider the current recommended fungicide strategy of PPT and Mancozeb treatments, selecting paddocks with little or no field pea history, avoiding close proximity to previous field pea stubbles, and delaying sowing as long as possible.
• Several experimental fungicides with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015.
• Disease progression and grain yield were both reduced by dry and hot spring conditions in early October at all sites in 2015. Further evaluation is warranted in years and environments with more favourable spring conditions. Earlier application timings than the 8 week treatment used in these experiments may also be warranted, along with additional ‘spring’ treatments in longer more favourable seasons.
• A number of industry support groups have reported the economic benefit of using fungicide in controlling blackspot in field pea. Results in 2015 showed the current fungicide application strategy, using PPT and two Mancozeb applications suppressed blackspot at most sites, but previous yield benefits reported from this treatment were not realised due to the hot and dry spring conditions experienced in 2015.
• New fungicide actives and formulas being evaluated showed significant increases in efficacy for controlling blackspot compared to untreated plots and those treated with Mancozeb. Furthermore, a significant yield benefit (approx. 15%) were also identified in these treatments this year. Further trials are planned in 2016 to explore these results.

Despite the lack of significant disease, grain yields were reduced by 20% (0.54t/ha) in a ‘nil’ treatment compared with a fortnightly fungicide application regime.

• Due to climatic conditions frost and dry conditions there was no effect of crop topping and harvest timing in 2014.

• PBA Herald XT, together with tolerant breeding lines CIPAL1101 and CIPAL1102, show much
  improved tolerance to a range of group B herbicides compared to Nipper. The tolerant varieties
  showed no yield loss to a number of herbicides, whereas Nipper showed up to 100% yield loss (eg high rate of ‘Imi mix’).

• Response of lentils to herbicide treatments varied with seasonal conditions, method of herbicide incorporation, stubble coverage, soil texture and fertility.
• Treatments that showed high plant damage generally incurred high yield losses, however low levels of chlorosulfuron plant damage still resulted in significant yield loss in some trials

• Penetration of fungicides into large bean canopies can present a problem, particularly in higher rainfall areas, where canopies are larger and incidence of disease is higher.
• Manipulation of  bean canopies through reducing height and density would allow much easier fungicide application, efficacy and perhaps even reduce disease intensity in itself.

• None of the Imi treatments resulted in a significant grain yield loss for the tolerant varieties, and few visual symptoms of crop damage were observed.

• PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have good tolerance to imidazolinone chemicals, but may not be as tolerant to Imi-3 as the lines CIPAL1208 and CIPAL1209.
• Conversely, PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have improved tolerance to the Sulfonylurea herbicides relative to the control and CIPAL 1208 and CIPAL 1209, indicating potential benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• PBA HurricaneXT has improved tolerance to the sulfonylurea herbicides relative indicating significant benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• PBA HurricaneXT has improved tolerance to the sulfonylurea herbicides relative indicating significant benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• None of the Imi treatments resulted in a significant grain yield loss for the tolerant varieties, and few visual symptoms of crop damage were observed.

• PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have s good tolerance to imidazolinone chemicals, but may not be as tolerant to Imi-3 as the lines CIPAL1208 and CIPAL1209.
• Conversely, PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have improved tolerance to the Sulfonylurea herbicides relative to the control and CIPAL 1208 and CIPAL 1209, indicating potential benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• The early season climatic events of waterlogging (Wanilla) and hail damage (Tooligie) were not
  conducive for small scale field trial studies, but reflected wide scale industry issues from these
  regions.
• Although this meant that some measurements could not be taken, reasonable results were
  still gained from these trials.

• The trial highlights the advancements made through breeding, with most modern varieties at least 25% higher yielding than Dundale, despite the extreme weather conditions (dry spring and frosts). In most cases this resulted in gross margins improved by more than 100% in 2014.

• Most varieties yielded did not incur yield loss from crop topping at the recommended timing indicating that they were well suited to crop topping at the recommended timing for rye grass control in 2014 where the season finished rapidly due to dry conditions.
• As found in previous seasons there is not always a direct correlation between variety flowering and maturity timing and yield loss due to crop-topping.

• There was a strong crop-top timing response, but limited variation between varieties from crop-topping in 2012. This may be due to below average end-season rainfall, suppressing some yield potential of untreated plots, particularly in later maturing varieties.
• All varieties showed yield loss from crop-topping two weeks prior to the recommended timing. A link between plant maturity and reduced yield was observed at the Early crop topping timing, with earlier maturing varieties showing the least effect and later maturing varieties presenting the greatest effect. At the Recommended timing only two of the later maturing varieties showed any yield loss.

• At both trial sites due to very dry spring conditions and high levels of moisture stress no disease occurred last year. Hence there were no significant interactions between treatments at either site apart from an overall time of sowing difference which was reported on in the time of sowing by seeding rate experiment.

• Dry and hot spring conditions suppressed lentil plant growth at both sites.
• No foliar diseases occurred at either site and hence there was no response to fungicide treatments.
• However, variety and sowing time treatments did have an effect on grain yield and quality at both sites.

• Early sown lentils consistently out-yielding those sown later, as the heat wave event in early
  November compromised yield of late sown lentil crops by terminating seed fill prematurely.
• The 2009 data was inconclusive in determining whether foliar fungicides for BGM control
  can be delayed until after the canopy closure stage in situations where conditions are not
  conducive for disease development at canopy closure (ie less than 10oC at night and 18oC
  during the day).
• The rapid finish to the season favoured early maturing varieties PBAFlash and CIPAL610 at
  both sites, averaging 5-32% above site means across sowing dates.
• Canopy closure sprays with follow up sprays dependent upon disease observation were
  successful in reducing BGM in all varieties tested at Paskeville, even at the early sowing
  date.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.
• Trial was not harvested.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.
• Grain yields were less than 0.5 t/ha.

• The late break (11 June) and prevailing seasonal conditions were unfavourable for the spread of botrytis grey mould at both sites in 2005
• Traces of botrytis grey mould were found at both sites but had no impact on yield. A late season ascochyta blight outbreak did occur at Melton however control sprays may have been applied too late to induce a fungicide response.
• No significant difference was recorded between any of the different fungicide spray strategies between varieties or at different sowing times.

• A lack of foliar disease pressure, due to dry seasonal conditions, prevented the assessment of differing fungicide regimes on varieties in 2006.
• Previous agronomic trials and observations from evaluation trials suggest Nipper can be sown earlier than Nugget and Northfield without the need for high fungicide inputs due to its improved disease resistance.
• Further work on optimum sowing dates and fungicide strategies for maximising yield and quality of the large seeded green lentil type Boomer is still required.

• A drier than average growing season in 2012 meant that there was minimal disease in this trial, and grain yield was lower than in previous seasons.
• PBA Flash outyielded Nipper by 23% in this trial, demonstrating its better suitability in shorter seasons and more marginal growing areas compared to Nipper.

• A high level of crop safety exists in PBA Herald XT to both post-sowing pre-emergent (PSPE) and post-emergent (PE) applications of imazethapyr. This high level of crop safety was shown to most but not all of the group B herbicides (e.g. Imi-4).
• Nipper showed up to 100% yield loss in some treatments where tolerant lines showed no yield loss. Nipper incurred yield losses from all herbicide treatments at Pinery but not all at Arthurton. Flumetsulam and single rates of Imazethapyr and Imi-2 were less damaging at Arthurton, but other treatments generally caused similar yield losses between the two sites.

• The tolerance of Nipper and Boomer to commonly used herbicides in terms of grain yield was similar to Nugget.
• Herbicide treatments containing metribuzin applied PSPE, generally caused the greatest yield loss to all varieties.

• All varieties behaved similarly for grain yield in response to changes in plant density.
• This result was also found in the 2005 and 2006 trials, and indicates that the current recommended rate of 120 plants per sq.m is adequate for optimising yields at standard sowing dates in the new varieties Boomer and Nipper.
• The effects of sowing time indicate that in some seasons to maximise yields when sowing late plant densities can be increased, however this may not always be economical and in some cases could increase risk of disease.
• Lower rates could also be used when sowing early but
  again this result could vary with seasonal conditions.

• Low yields – no data.

• Early sowing generally produced the highest yield for lentils in 2007.
• Lentils varieties generally all responded similarly to plant density, in that, at the May sowing date, lower densities produced higher yields, while at the July sowing date, higher densities produced highest yields.

• Plant establishment – Most varieties had establishment between 80 and 90 plants/m2.
• CIPAL415 and Northfield were significantly lower at 65 plants/m2.
• Grain yield – Yields were generally extremely low, so it is difficult too draw many conclusions from the data.

• Grain yields averaged approximately 25% higher in plots sown on 30 cm the row spacing system (standing stubble) compared with the 19.5 cm row spacing system.
• Varieties responded differently to changes in row spacing with yield improvements ranging from 15%-50%.

• A dry and late start to the season led to the first time of sowing at both sites being dry sown in early June.
• The opening rains at both sites arrived on the 11th June, which was the effective sowing date for the first time of sowing.
• This sowing date was more in line with a mid sowing time for the Sandilands area and a mid too late sowing date for the Melton area.

• Results from 2004 were strongly influenced by the rapid dry finish to the season. Generally
  CIPAL203 performed similarly to Northfield for its response to sowing time last year, while no
  response to seeding rate occurred last year. Due to its superior disease resistance and relatively lower biomass production CIPAL203 is likely to benefit to a greater extent from earlier sowing dates than Northfield, providing the risk of metribuzin damage is avoided. Further evaluation is required in seasons with more average finishing conditions.

• Earlier sowing generally resulted in highest yields. Similar to Minyip ,there were no major differences in yield with wider row spacings (30cm c.f. 19.5cm).
• However, an increase in pod height in the wider rows and standing stubble was only recorded at the second sowing date.

• In 2009, earlier sowing resulted in highest yield and best grain quality, particularly due to the extreme heatwave in November.

• Average grain yields across all varieties in retained stubble treatments (Slashed and Standing) were equal or greater than Removed stubble treatments in all years of testing.
• There was generally a greater yield response from the Standing treatment than the Slashed treatment.
•  The yield response from stubble retention was generally the greatest at the Late sowing date.

• Optimum plant density rates for the new lentil varieties Nipper (red) and Boomer (green) are the same as for current varieties.
• Lower than optimum plant densities resulted in lower grain yields particularly at later sowing dates.
• The new green lentil variety Boomer is well adapted to the more favourable lentil growing areas
• Nipper performed similarly to Nugget and Northfield last year in the absence of foliar diseases.

• Field peas and vetch were most profitable in this low rainfall year. While grains yields were low, all crops either ‘broke even’ or made a small profit, indicating that pulses have a fit in farming systems in this region with additional benefits achieved in the following crop. Always consider varietal performance over several seasons to ensure suitability. 

• There was a small difference in plant establishment between the varieties and breeding lines (see Table 3 in attached trial report summary).  The two CIPAL lines had significantly higher plant populations than PBA Bolt and PBA Jumbo2.  However, these treatments still had adequate plant densities, and this is not expected to have affected grain yield in such a dry season.
• There were no significant differences in grain yield between varieties with a mean yield of 0.39 t/ha across all varieties and breeding lines.  Prior to harvest a blackening of the lentil foliage was noticed, therefore a visual score of the percentage of blackening observed in each plot was recorded.  It is unknown what caused this effect; however, it could relate to underlying variability of subsoil constraints.  There was a significant difference between varieties for blacking score with PBA Jumbo2 and PBA Hurricane XT showing significantly less blackening than the other varieties.  This score was also used as a covariate in the grain yield analysis however this still did not result in significant differences. 
   

• There were no significant differences between treatments for any of the variables measured on the sandy loam soil.
•  The mean grain yield across all treatments was 0.55 t/ha which was slightly higher than that achieved on the contrasting loam soil type (0.39 t/ha).  This outcome reflects higher levels of plant available water on lighter textured soils under low rainfall conditions such as those experienced in 2018. 

• Growth of lentil varieties and breeding lines was poor and grain yields were very low due to extremely dry conditions and multiple frost events during the growing season. Several of the salt tolerant lines appeared to show better growth early in the season.
• PBA Hurricane XT matured relatively early compared to other recently released varieties under dry conditions.
• Consistent with previous seasons, the new breeding line CIPAL1504 had grain yield similar or higher than recently released varieties, highlighting its yield stability and potential for future release.  

• The grain yield of lentil varieties and breeding lines varied widely from as low as 0.28 t/ha to 0.72 t/ha (see Table 3 in attached trial report summary).  PBA Ace was the highest yielding treatment and the only commercial variety to yield higher than the new PBA genotypes: Len3, CIPAL1504, Len4 and Len5.  
• With the exception of PBA Ace, the yields of all other commercial varieties were similar.  
• The line Len 1 was the worst performing treatment in the trial.  It was noted that it flowered and matured significantly earlier than all other treatments and therefore may have been adversely affected by the dry weather during September, relative to other lines. 

• Normalised Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to compare lentil growth of varieties across the 10 subplots.  As shown in Figure 1 in the attached trial report summary, lentil growth was greatest on the flat soil type (bay 1-3), however productivity declined on the mid-slope and sand dune (bay 4-10).  Overall, PBA Ace had the highest NDVI, but that varied across the bays. In the sandier (mid slope and sand dune) bays, PBA Hurricane XT and CIPAL 1721 performed relatively well.  

• There was no statistically significant effect of herbicide treatments on the grain yield of lentils or pod maturation (see Table 3 in attached trial report summary).  Although there were no significant differences for grain yield or pod maturity, the treatments resulted in visual differences in foliage greenness 7 days post application.

• PBA Hurricane XT lentils continue to show tolerance to all group B herbicides tested in this trial, presenting an opportunity for flexibility in crop rotations.
• PBA Hurricane XT lentils displayed small amounts of yellowing and stunting from some herbicides, most evident following ‘SU2’ applied at 4 node, however they recovered quickly. No grain yield reduction was observed in PBA Hurricane XT from any of the herbicides applied in this trial.
• PBA Jumbo 2 displayed a significant yield reduction from terbuthylazine incorporated by sowing (IBS) in comparison to simazine applied IBS. As would be expected, the application of ‘SU1’ post-sow preemerge (PSPE) and ‘Imi2’ at 4 node significantly reduced grain yield in comparison to all other treatments.
• Early in the growing season, both varieties showed slightly more damage from terbuthylazine than simazine both applied IBS.
• ‘Imi1’ and ‘SU2’ both displayed the worst physical herbicide damage but recovered over time. 

•  All results need to be treated with caution, due the dry conditions, frosts and weed burden at the trial site. Similar to previous research PBA Hurricane XT showed tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides and improved tolerance compared with PBA Jumbo2 to sulfonylureas and sulfonamide herbicides. Flowering applications, as expected generally had the most significant reduction on grain yield. The improved weed control in several of the herbicide treatments meant that significant yield gains were commonly observed in the herbicide treatments. 
   

• ‘LGPC’ demonstrated improved tolerance to Metribuzin compared to PBA Jumbo2, particularly on the sand dune.

• Applications of metribuzin PSPE significantly reduced lentil establishment compared to IBS and the untreated control (see Figure 1 in attached trial report summary).  Across all varieties and sowing depths, establishment following the PSPE application was 75 plants/m2 while the IBS and untreated treatments had a plant establishment of 100 plants/m2.  Damage following PSPE application of metribuzin was particularly severe in the PBA Hurricane XT lentils.  The 4 node treatment had similar establishment to the control as the in crop herbicide treatment had not been applied at the time of the establishment assessment. 
• See attached trial report summary for further results and interpretations.

• PBA Jumbo2 showed significant herbicide damage from all the herbicide treatments except applications of up to ‘r2’ of ‘HTGpC-D’, ‘r2’ of ‘HTGpC-H’ and ‘r1’ of ‘HTGpC-F’ at the four node stage.
• The new genotype ‘LGPC’ had no significant herbicide injury from any herbicide treatment except ‘HTGpC-A’.
• Both genotypes showed the highest sensitivity to application of ‘HTGpC-A’ at the four node stage.
• Grain yield results should be interpreted with caution due to very dry seasonal conditions and yield loss in ‘LGPC’ due to seed shattering. 

• PBA Jumbo 2 showed significant herbicide damage and a 38-73% yield loss from application of higher rates of ‘HTGpC-E’, ‘HTGpC-B’ and both low and higher rates of ‘HTGpC-A’, ‘HTGpCC’ and ‘HTGpC-G’. In contrast, the genotype ‘LGPC’ showed improved tolerance to post emergence application of various Group C herbicides and Group C & F mixes, and produced biomass and grain yields equivalent to the nil treatment. 

• A significant reduction in biomass was observed when phosphorus was omitted from the fertilizer on both soil types, however grain yield was reduced only on the sandhill, not swale.
• The dry growing season conditions may have reduced movement and uptake of the applied macro and micro-nutrients by the crop. Hence, results should be treated with caution.

• NDVI indicated differences in lentil growth with low values in treatments which received no nitrogen (see Table 3 in attached trial report summary).  The highest values were in the treatments which received all macro nutrients (All and Alltrace elements).  
• Biomass data was collected from bays 3, 5 and 9.  Individually no bay showed statistically significant effects of the treatments, but collectively there was significance at the p < 0.01 level (see Figure 1 in attached trial report summary).  The treatments with the lowest biomass were the All-N and Nil plots which both had no nitrogen added.
• The only significant effect on grain yield was in bay 4 where the All-N and Nil treatments were lowest.  While the grain yield in this bay was very low, the response is consistent with the data from both NDVI and biomass. 

• Lentils are not traditionally grown in the Victorian HRZ. Mid-season vigour was good and suggested a promising fit for lentils in the region, but late rain in November caused lodging and significantly reduced yields, highlighting the importance of sowing into standing residue.
• Sowing on May 14 increased crop biomass compared to sowing on May 31, but this did not translate into greater grain yields.

•  Lentils are not traditionally grown in the Victorian HRZ. Growth vigour was good and suggested a promising fit for lentils in the region, but unfavourable weather during reproductive stages, and late rain in November that caused lodging reduced grain yields.
• Large numbers of pods were dropped before harvest, with more than twice the number of pods dropped in plots sown on May 17 compared to June 6.  
   

• Grain yields of varieties and breeding lines were very low due to dry seasonal conditions. Hence, results of these trials should be interpreted with caution.
• Several frosts during the flowering and podding phase significantly impacted grain yields, particularly the earlier sown treatments which were further advanced in the reproductive phase and unable to recover. As a result, the trends observed in 2018 are completely opposite to long term trial results in low rainfall environment for lentil, which generally indicate significant benefits from earlier sowing.
• The mid/late maturing breeding lines CIPAL1504 and CIPAL1522 have consistently performed well in the Mallee across multiple seasons, highlighting the yield potential of advanced lines coming through the breeding program.

• Grain yields of varieties and breeding lines were very low due to dry seasonal conditions and extreme temperature events (heat and frost) during the growing season. Hence, results of this trial should be interpreted with caution. Long-term data and additional information should be considered when making varietal or agronomic decisions.
• Several frosts during the flowering and podding phase significantly impacted grain yields, particularly the earlier sown treatments which were further advanced in the reproductive phase and unable to recover. As a result, the trends observed in 2018 are completely opposite to long term trial results for lentil, which generally indicate significant benefits from earlier sowing.
• The mid/late maturing lines CIPAL1504 and CIPAL1522 have consistently performed well across multiple seasons, highlighting the yield potential of advanced lines coming through the breeding program. 

• The AB isolate caused a moderately susceptible disease reaction in unprotected (Nil) plots on varieties which are currently rated as being MR (PBA Blitz) and MR/MS (Nipper, Nugget and PBA Greenfield) which indicates a change in virulence of the AB isolate resulting in a loss of foliar AB resistance in these varieties.
• Research conducted by SARDI Pathology group and reported elsewhere (Pulse Diseases 2017, GRDC Updates 2017 proceedings) has shown that the AB isolate tested in the current trial, caused susceptible reactions in PBA Hurricane XT and disease reactions in PBA Ace and PBA Bolt when tested under controlled environmental conditions. This results were however not confirmed under field conditions in the current trial.
• The current results suggest that there is a change of virulence in the AB pathogen which may be causing a loss in foliar resistance on varieties currently rated as being relatively resistant. The AB isolate tested was collected from the high intensity lentil producing area in the Yorke Peninsula region in SA.
• Protection of the plant foliage through application of fortnightly Chlorothalonil significantly increased yield in the most susceptible variety, PBA Flash (76 %) over unprotected (Nil) plots.
• Grain yields were also improved in varieties that had moderate disease reactions together with those varieties that showed no disease symptoms, indicating the importance of fungicide sprays in not only controlling disease but also enhancing plant growth.
• All commercial lentil varieties should be managed as having potential for risk from foliar AB especially under favourable conditions that promote disease. Varieties will need close monitoring for disease during the growing season and strategic fungicide sprays will be required in all varieties even in the absence of disease symptoms particularly in varieties rated as having foliar resistance to AB pathogen.

Seeding rate of lentils in the Mallee could be lowered from 120 to 80 plants/m2, particularly with new disease resistant varieties sown early. Lentils were profitable in the mallee, producing up to $653/ha at Kulwin and $433/ha at Curyo.

• PBA Ace and PBA Jumbo2 performed very well across a range of agronomic characters, compared to the other varieties tested in this experiment.
• Sowing time was a critical management factor in the 2015 season.
• Sow lentil early to late May in the eastern cropping region of southern NSW.
• Target establishment densities of 120 plants m2 in this environment.

• Grain yields of all pulses evaluated in 2014 were very much higher than their long term averages and also than those achieved in 1999, the last time these four pulse types were compared at Minnipa.
• The higher yields achieved last year are largely a result of the more favourable season that
  occurred in 2014 compared with 1999. Growing season rainfall was 85 mm higher in 2014 and
  annual rainfall 144 mm higher. Another major factor was the earlier sowing date in 2014 (May 5) compared with May 28 in 1999.

• Metribuzin did demonstrate good crop safety on several varieties in 2010, which indicates it may be relatively safe for the late control of wild radish in some lupin varieties.
• However, 2010 was an incredibilly ‘soft’ finish which allowed plants to make unchecked compensatetory growth after the herbicide was applied.
• These trials will be repeated in 2011.

• This trial demonstrates that the varieties trialed have the potential to react differently to sowing time and row spacing in the higher rainfall environment and in the favourable growing season of 2010.
• The development of specifically tailored management packages designed to maximise yield of each variety will be developed with the continuation of this trial over the coming years.

• Lupin establishment was strongly affected by seed depth and by the herbicide application treatment.  In all treatments except metribuzin applied PSPE, plant density was higher at a sowing depth of 3 cm rather than 6 cm. The IBS application of metribuzin reduced plant density for both sowing depths, however the PSPE application only reduced density for the 3cm depth. In  comparison to the untreated plot.
• There was a significant herbicide treatment by sowing depth interaction on the visual herbicide damage score ( Figure ). The greatest damage was observed where lupins were sown at 6 cm and metribuzin was applied IBS.  However, with a damage score of 10-15, the symptoms were only slight with the effects reversable.  This was reflected in grain yield as overall there was no significant effect of the treatments, seeding depth or variety.  The mean grain yield for all treatments was 0.75 t/ha. 

• The season was characterized by above average rainfall conditions which provided good growing conditions for crops and also ideal conditions for weed establishment, particularly medic which was difficult to control at the site and may have masked variety differences from crop topping application timings in the trial.
• Crop topping lentils 10 days prior to the recommended ARG milky dough stage led to a significant (>50 %) yield loss when compared to the respective Nil treatments across all lentil varieties. This indicates that correct timing of this practice in critical in this crop and may be difficult to achieve in long favorable growing seasons like 2016.
• Grain yield of lentil varieties was affected similarly across the crop top timings in 2016. This conflicted with previous findings, which had shown that varieties like PBA Blitz were better suited to this practice, and highlights the large effect seasonal conditions have on this agronomic practice in lentil. Further varietal development work is required in lentil before the industry has a robust variety which is well suited to effective crop topping of ARG across environments and seasons.
• All varieties of field peas showed a high level of adaption to the agronomic practice of crop topping in the long and favorable season of 2016 which is consistent with previous findings in this crop (Southern Pulse Agronomy Results Summary, 2015)
• A significant grain yield loss was observed from crop topping chickpeas 10 days earlier and at the recommended ARG milky dough stage highlighting the poor relative suitability of this crop to the agronomic practice of crop topping. PBA has developed early maturing chickpea varieties which may be better suited to crop topping in some environments and seasons. Further evaluation is required with these lines as the ability to reduce ARG seed set in this highly uncompetitive crop is essential for its continued uptake in southern farming systems.

• The 2016 season saw higher yields than the previous two seasons in field pea, lentil and faba bean. Chickpeas however performed better at Minnipa in 2014 due to adequate rainfall during the growing season and warmer temperatures during critical flower and pod fill stages. A virulence change in the ascochyta blight (AB) pathogen in southern Australia now means that all current chickpea varieties are rated as either susceptible or moderately susceptible. Although often relatively lower yielding in low rainfall regions, moderately susceptible varieties GenesisTM090 and PBA Slasher will have a reduced production risk and require fewer fungicides than the higher yielding susceptible varieties such as PBA Striker. Chickpeas are generally less suited than other pulse options in many cropping regions in SA due to their relatively late maturity and increased sensitivity to cold temperatures during the flowering and pod filling phase.

• Crop species were blocked and not randomized for ease of management and this experiment was only aimed at obtaining a general understanding of rhizoctonia susceptibility in different crop species. As such results will require careful interpretation and crops cannot statistically be compared with each other. Only comparisons between varieties and treatments within a crop species can be statistically compared.
• Results do however indicate a trend in increased susceptibility of some crops and varieties to Rhizoctonia than others with faba beans appearing to show a reduced ability to decrease rhizotonia levels when compared with the other crop species. This finding backed up field observations throughout the year for both crop growth and root health.
• Further work is required in this area to understand if pulse crops vary in their ability to offer a ‘break crop’ benefit in terms of rhizoctonia root disease levels to the following cereal crops..
• Initial results also suggest variety variability for reducing or hosting rhizoctonia in pulses may exist and also requires further understanding.
• An improved field screening methodology is required to achieve the above due to the patchy and random nature of this disease in the soils of SA. An associated project by SARDI root diagnostics group is underway to try and develop such a methodology.

• Sowing depth had no effect on emergence, biomass production or grain yield in lentils and field peas.
• Field peas - Early sowing (early - mid May) beneficial at the Mallee sites for newer varieties (PSL4, Snowpeak and Excell).
• Lentils - Later sowing (mid June - early July) beneficial this year due to late rainfall.

• Row spacing and sowing rate had no impact on grain yield in 2015.

• Yield loss from disease in PBA Rana was significantly less than other varieties
  compared in this trial.

• Similar to other pulse crops growing conditions in 2011 were excellent for faba beans, due to
  extreme rainfall events during the summer of 2010/11 which resulted in soil profiles at or near field capacity at sowing.

• Under higher disease pressure it is still economically beneficial to actively manage ascochyta blight through regular fungicide application even in moderately resistant varieties.

• Grain yields - The effects of variety, row spacing and edge row effects as single factors were
  found not to be significant (P<0.005). There was also no significant interaction of any of the
  combination of treatments detected. No differences were detected across row spacing’s and
  varieties.

• The new line 01A012R-67 had grain yields equivalent or higher than all other varieties compared.

• Yields at the widest row spacing (50cm) were significantly less
• Seed size in desi varieties showed reasonable stability across row spacing
• Seed size in Genesis 090 (kabuli) increased with row spacing

• Grain yield of beans at Curyo in a dry season were up to 1.20 t/ha results in estimated net returns of between $300/ha. New drought tolerant varieties are likely to have substantial yield advantage (20%) over current varieties.

• The wet season finish in 2010 favoured chickpea production, and yields were significantly
  higher than in previous years, averaging 2.7 t/ha in this trial.
• All varieties showed reduced yield at wider row spacings.
• The two potential new releases CICA0603 and CICA0604 showed the largest reduction in
  yield at the wide row spacing, while PBA Slasher showed the least.
• Row spacing had no significant effect on ascochyta blight infection or lodging in this trial in
  2010.

• Chickpea yields were again high in 2011, averaging 3.8t/ha.
• Favourable growing conditions and minimal disease resulted in equal or higher yields from
  early sown treatments.
• Lodging of chickpeas was high in 2011, particularly where sown early. CICA0603, CICA0857
  and Genesis079 were the most susceptible varieties to lodging.

• Winter and spring seasonal conditions favoured faba bean production in 2010, and as a consequence plants were able to maximise pod fill so that the highest sowing density yielded highest.
• Yield was generally maximised at the later sowing date except Farah and Fiord, which showed no difference in yield at either sowing date.
• Increasing plant density increased ascochyta blight infection, likely resulting from increased
  canopy humidity.
• Fiord and Nura showed increased ascochyta blight infection when sown early, consistent
  with other recent findings.
• Lodging was worse for thicker sown and earlier sown beans, particularly at wider row
  spacings in 974* and Farah due to their bulkier canopies.

• Winter and spring seasonal conditions favoured faba bean production in 2010, and as a consequence plants were able to maximise pod fill so that the highest sowing density yielded highest.
• Yield was maximised at the early sowing date by all varieties except Farah, whose later
  maturity meant it could capitalise on the rains in late spring and into summer.
• Fiord showed a relatively high yield penalty from delayed sowing in a favourable season,
  most likely due to its early maturity so that it could not make the most of the favourable
  season finish.
• Lodging was worse for earlier sown beans, particularly Farah, as observed at Conmurra this
  year.
• Farah showed the largest reduction in plant height by delayed sowing, which may be linked
  to its similar yields at both sowing dates.

• Faba bean yields at Bool Lagoon were again high in 2011 despite below average growing
  season rainfall, being buoyed by high summer rainfall and minimal disease.
• Varieties performed similarly at Bool Lagoon in 2011, and plant density generally had a  greater influence on yield than variety choice.
• There was a general yield response to increasing sowing density from 16 to 32 plants/m2 in
  2011, particularly at the later sowing date, however previous research has shown a link to
  increased disease pressure which may negate any potential yield advantage from this higher seeding rate. The recommended seeding rate for beans (24 plants/m2) performed similarly to the high seeding density for all varieties

• Early sown chickpea in a LRZ were generally higher yielding than the mid June sowing date.
• PBA Slasher again topping the grain yields across sowing dates and plant populations.
• Plant populations of 30 plants/m2 show significant advantage over 15plants/m2. There was not
  yield advantage in sowing heavier and achieving 45 plants/m2.

• Sowing after the start of May resulted in a reduction in expected yields compared to previous seasons
• Delaying sowing reduced Faba bean yields by approximately 0.3t/ha
• There was significant difference between varieties and with delayed sowing
• PBA Nura was the best performed variety at both sowing dates
• There was little disease pressure.

• Faba bean yields at Tarlee were again high in 2011 despite below average growing season rainfall, being buoyed by high summer rainfall and minimal disease.
• Disease levels were generally low in 2011, and there was very little disease pressure in this trial.
• Although rust outbreaks were observed across the state no rust was evident in this trial.
• The favourable season, together with minimal disease and minimal lower pod abortion, meant that yield was close to reaching maximum potential.

• Due to early season waterlogging grain yields of lupin on Lower Eyre Peninsula were variable and generally poor in 2011 and no effect of variety choice and row spacing on grain yield was observed.
• However a sowing date response did occur with the mid sown lupins outyielding early and late
  sown lupins.

• Sowing after the start of May resulted in a reduction in expected yields compared to previous seasons.
• Delaying sowing reduced Faba bean yields by approximately 0.3t/ha
• There was significant difference between varieties and with delayed sowing
• PBA Nura was the best performed variety at both sowing dates
• There was little disease pressure.

• Stubble treatments showed no yield difference in 2011, however differences in plant height and
  lodging were observed throughout the season which may aid harvestability, particularly in shorter seasons with less biomass

• The trial results show that time of sowing has a significant impact on grain yields. Varieties need to be sown at the optimum time to maximize grain yield which in this experiment was at the early time of sowing (late April).

• Winter and spring seasonal conditions favoured faba bean production in 2010.
• Yield was generally maximised at the early sowing date.
• Lodging was worse for earlier sown beans, particularly Farah and Nura.
• While early sown beans had higher ascochyta blight infection than late sown beans, there
  was no difference in severity between bean varieties.
• Chocolate spot severity was low at this site in 2010, and there was no difference between
  varieties or sowing dates.

• Bean yields at Conmurra were significantly lower in 2011 than in 2010.
• This trial was located in much shallower soil in 2011 than 2010, and yield was suppressed by dry conditions and several frost events during September and October.

• This research demonstrated the potential to continue improving profitability of kabuli chickpea, with one breeding line (CICA1352) showing improved profitability over PBA Monarch. Earlier sowing was significantly higher yielding for all varieties in 2014, increasing economic returns by an average of $220/ha. Similar to previous seasons PBA Monarch ($400/ha) produced the highest net returns of all commercial varieties when sown early.

• Since soil moisture was not limiting, and a soft finish to the season was observed, sowing date trials at Minnipa in 2010 showed no differences in yield between early and late sowing dates under these conditions.

• Grain yield of field peas sown at Hart in 2010 averaged 2.5t/ha across all varieties, similar to
  2009.
• No sowing time response was observed in 2010 due to disease in early sown plots and the
  favourable season finish that promoted yield in later sown plots.
• Early sown plots with uncontrolled blackspot showed a 35% yield loss compared to the
  optimum control (fortnightly chlorothalonil), which yielded 3.6t/ha.
• Recently released early maturing varieties PBA Gunyah and PBA Twilight performed slightly
  below the site mean yield in a year which favoured later maturing types like Kaspa.
• Prospective releases OZP0703 and OZP0903 show a lot of promise, with OZP0703 performing similarly to Kaspa and OZP0903 yielding 10% greater.