Researchers testing alternative legumes
Can black gram be grown in the Wimmera? Is adzuki bean a potential crop for the Mallee?
Agriculture Victoria researchers are looking to assess the viability of growing alternative legume crops in Australia’s southern agricultural region, as both winter and summer crop options.
The investigation is part of a new Grains Research and Development Corporation and Agriculture Victoria investment.
Dr James Nuttall, the program leader, said adapted legume crop options were limited within southern region farming systems, particularly relating to summer-crop options.
“Despite the significant breeding gains made with major grain legumes including lentil, chickpea, field pea, faba bean and lupin, further opportunities exist for alternative legumes in the system,” he said.
The GRDC and Agriculture Victoria are particularly keen to assess these legume crops in terms of their potential to generate farming systems benefits to growers.
New legume crops have the potential to provide greater flexibility as both grain and fodder options, fix additional nitrogen and, in the case of summer crops, provide opportunity to use rain in late spring and summer.”
The legume crops under testing scrutiny include adzuki bean, black gram, black turtle bean, borlotti bean, burgundy bean, cowpea, guar bean, kidney bean, lab lab, lathyrus, messina, moth bean, mungbean, narbon bean, navy bean, pigeon pea and soybean.
Many of these crops are traditionally suited to sub-tropical growing conditions.
Dr Nuttall said a key consideration to the success of crops tested would be their suitability to the rain pattern and temperature in southern environments.
He said the program was also tapping into the Australian Grains Genebank, AGG, at Horsham, a vital resource for conserving and supplying genetically diverse germplasm for crop species.
Early-sown trials at Horsham have now been established, where 812 different genebank legume lines are being tested.
Audrey Delahunty, a research agronomist working on the program, said the genebank had provided an invaluable supply of germplasm to test for genetic adaptation of these alternative legumes to the southern region.
“In testing a broad range of germplasm from the AGG, within the southern Australia environment, this will also help inform breeding programs of the key traits and genetic potential available to maximise adaptation of alternative legume crops within this region and systems context,” she said.
The program, in aiming to better understand the suitability of a range of alternative legumes to the southern region, also takes into consideration agronomy, markets and profitability.
GRDC’S southern agronomy and farming systems manager Andrew Etherton said research findings presented a huge opportunity for growers to include an additional crop into rotations that will benefit their entire farming system.
He said key issues under investigation included optimal time of sowing and opportunities and herbicide options across the Mallee, Wimmera, North East and South West regions.
“Ultimately, we are aiming to identify crops and management strategies that can expand the range of legumes available to the grains industry helping to build soil nitrogen, utilise outof-season rain and improve farm profitability,” he said.