Dr Lachlan Lake1,2,3, Stefan Schmitt4, Prof. Victor Sadras1,2,3
1SARDI, Urrbrae, Australia, 2Adelaide University, Urrbrae, Australia, 3Flinders University, Australia, 4Agricultural Consulting and Research, Australia
Biography:
Dr Lachlan Lake is a crop ecophysiologist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, an associate professor at Flinders University and an affiliate lecturer at the University of Adelaide. His research interests and experience include crop modelling, capture and efficiency in the use of water and nutrients in dryland systems, adaptation of pulses to abiotic stresses and the dynamics of N fixation.
Abstract:
Crop mixtures typically involve cereals and pulses or cereals and oilseed crops. Mixtures of pulses have been overlooked. Here we summarise the outcomes of South Australian field trials testing the compatibility and profitability of mixtures of faba bean and field pea. We conducted the trials to determine if these mixtures of pulses can increase yield, improve agronomy, reduce risk, and provide higher returns. The two crops are agronomically complementary, e.g. chemical weed management, and should be easily adopted by growers with minimal changes to current systems. We trialled mixtures of PBA Samira and PBA Amberley faba bean and PBA Taylor field pea in ratios of 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and sole crops at Port Broughton and Kapunda, each with two times of sowing, and compared phenology, yield, and agronomic management. Across locations and sowing dates, faba bean flowered earlier but had a much longer time between flowering and podding compared to field peas. The total yield of mixtures was comparable to sole crops and in some cases superior; the drier, lower yielding environment of Port Broughton favoured mixtures dominated by field pea and the higher yielding environment of Kapunda favoured mixtures dominated by faba bean. The mixing of faba bean and field pea spread the risk of extreme temperatures within the critical period as the crops have different flowering windows and improved the harvestability of field pea. Preliminary results indicate the possibility of increasing the profitability of pulse growers in traditional and lower yielding field pea growing regions by growing faba bean/field pea mixtures.