Central Mallee Variety Trial Background and Method 2022

Background

Variable soils are common throughout the mallee and those associated with the dune/swale topography. Growth of all pulses, except lupin, on sandhills, is poor and can result in very low biomass and grain yield. The low biomass can also lead to increased risks for erosion and loss of topsoil. The trial in 2021 at Tempy showed a 0.5 t/ha grain yield increase in Lentil due to deep ripping. 

Method

The 2022 trials will build our understanding of the deep ripping response by measuring water use and WUE in lentils and chickpeas and will also test if there is an interaction of ripping response with variety selection and time of sowing.

During mid April, ripping treatment were applied with either unripped or deep ripping treatment to target depth of 50cm with Tilco A66 tines spaced at 56 cm apart.

Four varieties (Table 1) of Chickpeas and Lentils have been sown, half on the 1st of May and the second half on 1st June.