Pulse Rotations Provide Enormous Benefits to Farmers

SYDNEY - Jan 28/10 - SNS -- Crop rotations that include pulses provides many benefits but the uptake by Australian growers has been constrained by drought and disease outbreaks in recent years as well as uncertainty over price cycles.

However, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) believes the role of pulses is more important than ever and is investing significant funds into research in this area.

Pulses such as field peas, lentils, chickpeas, fababeans, lupins and peanuts boost nitrogen levels as well as help in the management of weeds, pests and diseases. This is on top of an average yield increase of 500 to 1,000 kilograms per hectare in the following cereal crop and an increase in protein of between 0.5 and 0.8%.

Without improved varieties it would be increasingly difficult for pulses to remain internationally competitive or popular with growers, yet their importance to whole farm productivity and to food security is increasing.

To maximize efficiency and reduce duplication, the GRDC is working with state departments, universities, international organizations and buyers so that breeding programs are nationally coordinated.

The latest edition of GRDC's magazine Ground Cover includes a supplement outlining GRDC's investment in pulse breeding and associated projects aiming to expand the Australian pulse industry.

To go on the mailing list or obtain additional copies of Ground Cover, visit the GRDC website (www.grdc.com.au), call 1800 11 00 44 or email ground-cover-direct@canprint.com.au

Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) is one model that's been established through industry collaboration and with significant GRDC and researcher provider investment. It's a single world-class breeding and germplasm enhancement program for temperate pulses – lentils, chickpeas, field peas, lupins and fababeans. Other models have been established for peanuts and mung beans.

PBA was set up in 2006 and the first varieties developed under the model were released in 2009.

Rather than tendering for a commercialization partner for each new variety, PBA has established a commercial partnership model by crop type. Partnerships are for a period of up to five years and include investment in the pre-commercial development of lines.

The arrangement means there is some sharing of risk, cost and effort between the breeding program and the commercial partner. This enables a larger number of lines to be progressed to the release stage earlier. It is anticipated that this model will reduce the time to market by between two and four years.

New investment will address industry priorities:

* the development of pulses with better adaptation to water limiting environments

* varieties with herbicide tolerance to improve in-crop weed control

* greater disease resistance

At the same time new varieties need to meet specific market requirements, such as seed size and grain color, so PBA and Pulse Australia work collectively to bring pulse breeders and international buyers of pulses together.

Ultimately, through its collaborations the aim of PBA is to expand and increase Australia's pulse productivity by delivering better, more suitable and profitable pulses that are adopted rapidly and widely.