As the 2024 growing season nears its end, pulse growers are making critical decisions that could impact both this year’s yields and next year’s crop success. At the GRDC Grain Legume Field Day held in Loxton this past September, Penny Roberts offered practical guidance on pulse crop management as the season wraps up. Here are some key take-home messages from her talk:
1. Conduct a Paddock Assessment
Penny emphasised the importance of taking a step back and assessing your paddock’s current state. Evaluate your crop type, growth stage, and available soil moisture. This snapshot of your paddock will guide your management decisions for the rest of the season. Penny noted that variability across paddocks is common, and this assessment can help pinpoint the best strategy moving forward.
2. Leverage Nitrogen Fixation at Peak Biomass
Pulse crops are now at their peak biomass, which means nitrogen fixation is at its highest point. Penny explained that this is the optimal time to consider your management options, whether it’s taking the crop to grain yield, cutting it for hay, grazing, or using brown manure. Each option provides economic benefits while setting up your paddock for a strong 2025 crop, thanks to improved nitrogen levels and soil moisture retention
3. Make Strategic Use of the Break-Even Point
For crops you plan to take to grain yield, Penny suggested using the break-even point as a decision-making tool. This approach can help you weigh the economic viability of pushing a crop to harvest, especially in a dry season. She advised growers to think strategically rather than relying on hope for late-season moisture.
4. Plan for Harvest Management
Harvest timing is crucial for pulse crops like lentils, chickpeas, and field peas, which are prone to staining and discolouration if left in the paddock too long. Penny emphasised the importance of careful desiccant timing to avoid pod loss, especially in light of wind events that can increase risk. She noted that adjusting desiccant strategies to match expected harvest dates and weather conditions can prevent crop losses.
5. Weed Burden and Future Cropping Decisions
Penny urged growers to consider the weed burden in their paddocks as they finalise their management strategies. Weeds not only impact this season’s crop but can also affect the success of next year’s crop. Spray topping and other weed management tactics should be integrated into end-of-season plans to minimise weed seed banks and improve future cropping outcomes.
6. Pulse Crops Pay Off
Despite the challenges, pulse crops offer long-term value. Even in below-average seasons, pulses can add significant benefits to your farming system, including nitrogen fixation and reduced disease pressure. Penny reminded growers that the decisions they make now can provide substantial returns in the following year, even if the current season doesn’t appear promising.
Penny’s practical advice is a reminder that making informed, strategic decisions now can optimize both short-term yields and long-term sustainability. As the season wraps up, these insights will be invaluable for pulse growers across the region.
For more information on the GRDC SA Grain Legume project visit the project page here
To listen to the podcast from the Loxton Field Day click here
About Dr Penny Roberts: Joining MSF in 2024 Dr Penny Roberts is a passionate agricultural systems scientist focused on the challenges of adaptation to climate change and supplying a growing population with nutritious food. Her recent research has focused around supporting the development of the pulse grain sector in South Australia. She is an Affiliate Associate Lecturer at The University of Adelaide with experience in cropping, pastures, livestock and farming system modelling.
