Queensland, Australia
March 29, 2010

Central Queensland (CQ) growers are tipped to plant a large chickpea crop this season on the back of good soil moisture, improvements in chickpea agronomy and low wheat prices.

Peter Keys, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) principal technical officer says chickpea is emerging as a “wonder crop” for the region.

Advances resulting from investments by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and research partners include increased yields and new varieties.

Since 2000 DEEDI’s chickpea breeding program has released three varieties, Kyabra* (2005), Moti* (2003) and Jimbour* (2000) – all desi varieties suited to CQ.

“Increased yields have resulted from improvements in chickpea agronomy, particularly the ability to deep plant, refinements to the time of sowing, plant population, row spacing and growers’ understanding of weed and pest control,” Mr Keys says.

“Chickpea is adapted to warm environments and can tolerate high temperatures during and after flowering.

“Unlike wheat, chickpea does not need rain for secondary root development and if frosted, can throw out another flush of flowers, provided moisture is not limited.”

Mr Keys says while chickpea is profitable in its own right, it also contributes to the crop rotation with its ability to fix nitrogen and provide a disease and weed break for winter cereals.

In recent years CQ chickpea yields have compared favourably with wheat, particularly on older ‘downs’ soils.

Key features to the ascochyta disease management strategy include a 100 per cent industry adoption of a voluntary CQ seed quarantine scheme to minimise the risk of ascochyta and grower’s knowledge of reducing spread of the disease.

“Never buy seed from southern areas due to the risk of bringing ascochyta disease onto your property,” Mr Keys says.

He says while a wheat/chickpea rotation is a good option growers should never be tempted to plant chickpea on chickpea.

With the establishment of Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) in 2006, chickpea breeding and evaluation is nationally focused.

The CQ chickpea evaluation program of PBA has identified an extremely promising new cultivar, CICA702 which has superior plant structure and a yield advantage over all other commercial chickpea varieties particularly in dry seasons.

“Hopefully CICA702 will soon be approved for release and seed available to
growers from AWB Seeds for the 2011 season and this will further enhance productivity and sustainability for CQ growers,” Mr Keys says.

Kyabra is currently the preferred variety for the region and has a large light seed, excellent early vigour which is ideal for deep sowings, good plant height and lodging
resistance.

Mr Keys says there is a perception that Kyabra* darkens less when stored over time than other comparable desi varieties such as Moti* and Jimbour* and this trait is an advantage to marketers.

He says zero tillage systems have shown a consistent 10-15 per cent yield advantage over cultivated systems.

“The recommended sowing window is May to June – mid May is ideal – and we advise growers to sow only high quality seed at rates calculated to achieve 30 plants per square metre.

“Seed should be treated with a registered fungicide to reduce the risk of infection with ascochyta and inoculated with Group N inoculant immediately prior to sowing for effective nodulation.

“Ideally sow chickpea five to seven centimetres into moist soil as this rate reduces the risk of damage from pre-emergent residual herbicides such as simazine.”

For more information, visit, www.grdc.com.au/pba.

* Variety protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: March 29, 2010