Pulse Agronomy Trials

Collaborating with Brill Ag, Grain Orana Alliance and Frontier Farming systems, with funding from GRDC.

The project aims to get a better understanding of the adaptability of pulse species to the local environments and how to improve production and close the yield gap of the best adapted pulses. The project is now in its 4th year.

The project includes 2 major validation (hub) sites at Ganmain and Parkes, delivering a series of fully replicated trial designs to measure the yield gap, and 5 on farm demonstration (spoke) trial sites. Our site at Barellan is one of the 5 spoke sites for the project, along with sites at Gol Gol, Canowindra, Caragabal and Buraja focussing on on-farm paddock scale strip trials, and/or small
demonstration plot trials driven by local grower D&E priorities.

The focus of the Barellan site in 2024 is:

1. Species Comparison: Evaluate the relative performance of major pulse crops (faba beans, field peas, lentils, lupins, vetch and chickpeas) in a variable rainfall environment.
2. P Response Trial: To evaluate the phosphorus efficiency (P response rate) of lentils and peas in a variable rainfall environment.
3. Fungicide Trial: To determine the most cost-effective management strategy for controlling blackspot in peas in a variable rainfall environment.