Background
Several new lentil varieties have been released or are due to be released with changes in agronomic traits such as plant architecture, biomass production, reproductive duration and timing, disease resistance, herbicide tolerance and pod retention. Changes in sowing date have the potential to maximise the benefits of these traits from a crop production and farming system perspective. In particular, there is an interest in understanding the implications of later flowering with a reduced reproductive window, combined with lower vigour. In addition the 2 new GIA varieties Sire and Metro have unique growth habits that may require different planting densities to optimise grain yield.
This paddock was previously sown with wheat in 2021 and located in Warne with sandy clay loam.
Aim
To investigate the response of new lentil varieties and genotypes to sowing dates.
Method
The following varieties were sown in whole blocks at the following two time of sowing dates:
3 May 2022 and 2 June 2022
| Nipper | Northfield |
| PBA Ace | PBA Bolt |
| PBA Hallmark XT | PBA Highland XT |
| PBA Hurricane XT | PBA Jumbo 2 |
| PBA Kelpie XT | CIPAL2121 |
| CIPAL2122 | GIA Leader |
| GIA Lightning | GIA Thunder |
| GIA Sire | GIA Metro |
The following varieties were sown at variable rates in plots
| Lentil Variety | Sowing Rates (kg) |
|---|---|
| GIA Sire | 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 |
| PBA Jumbo2 | 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 |
| GIA Leader | 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 |
| GIA Metro | 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 |