Winter pulses could be a new option for farmers in northern regions.
Plant breeder Kevin McPhee of North Dakota State University’s extension service told a pulse research workshop in Calgary that winter varieties of peas and lentils can produce higher yields, but there is also a greater risk of foliar disease.
“We have seen on average about a 40 percent yield advantage,” he said.
“Lentils is about the same story.”
During the seven years of trials, one year failed to produce a crop and another year was beyond expectations.
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Field trials and greenhouse research are ongoing in the Pacific Northwest, Montana and North Dakota to assess the success of these crops as well as develop agronomic techniques.
Winter pea production started in 1932 in Idaho when Austrian winter peas were grown as a green manure for ground cover. More than 30 years ago work started on crossing the Austrian variety to develop a winter crop suitable for the northern Great Plains climate.
Commercial varieties could be available in 2010.
Winter pulses are seeded from late August to early September.
Successful establishment is the most critical element for success. A big advantage of fall seeding is capturing winter precipitation and early spring moisture for good establishment.
If the crop survives winter, it should start growing again in March or April and mature by the end of June.
Researchers direct seeded through residue 1.5 to two inches below the surface. It is possible for seeds planted in stubble to become trapped in residue rather than go into the soil. These will fail to germinate.
Seeding into standing stubble offers protection in the winter and captures snow for added protection. However, researchers have also observed that mouse damage is common because snow and stubble provide a good canopy for rodents.
“These rodents consider these crops a salad bar,” he said.
Rodents tend to leave the lower nodes alone, which means the crop can survive and regrow in spring.
Another concern is frost heaving, in which the plant is pushed out of the ground because there is not enough root mass to hold its position in the soil. To prevent this, optimum fall plant growth needs to be about four inches tall with six to eight nodes with a good root system.
Researchers continue to select plants for winter hardiness, but spring hardiness is also needed. Heavy spring snow and frost can be killers.
“Spring conditions can be more detrimental to survival than what they experience in winter,” McPhee said.
Regrowth in spring can be deceiving because the plants are coming back up from lower nodes.
“Be sure your crop really is dead before you destroy the crop and replant,” he said.
Winter crops will fix nitrogen, and it appears more activity takes place in the fall compared to the spring.
Winter pulses may struggle more with disease, depending on the region. More foliar diseases may exist because the crop is in the ground during a cool, moist period.
“Because of the large biomass potential and ground cover from these crops, sclerotinia can be an issue,” McPhee said.
Herbicides are required because broadleaf weeds are more troublesome in pulse crops.
