An unprecedented volume of field pea seed has been ordered for planting in 2005, pointing to a substantial increase in the area sown to field peas over the next few years. 

Western Australia Department of Agriculture researcher Mark Seymour (photo) said seed sales of Kaspa alone suggested 250,000 hectares could be available to sow in 2006. 

The question of sustainability of such a large field pea crop was addressed today at the Agribusiness Crop Updates, with a review of the South Australian experience.

Mr Seymour said a large percentage of Western Australian growers will have either never grown field peas before or not grown them for many years.

“Many of the issues field pea producers in South Australia have faced are directly relevant to Western Australia and we can learn from their experiences, successes and failures,” he said. 

Field peas are the major pulse crop grown in South Australia with an average production area of 124,000 hectares.

At a peak of 155,000 hectares in 1994 or six per cent of the total cropping area, the field pea crop became unsustainable.  Average yields fell by 30 per cent due to increased disease levels (blackspot, downy mildew), weed competition and increased production levels in less favourable areas. 

Mr Seymour said there were a number of tools available for Western Australiangrowers to help plan where and when to sow field peas in order to reduce these production risks.

“The 'blackspot manager' computer model can be used to predict likely scenarios for a range of locations in WA,” Mr Seymour said. 

“Some scenarios to consider include frequency and density of field pea in a shire/locality/farm, altering risk profile by sowing early, and what happens in a wet year. 

“The frequency or density of field pea crops in Western Australia is unlikely to reach the proportions that caused major disease issues in South Australia when it reached six per cent of the total cropping area.”

Mr Seymour said in Western Australia the major concern was the concept of replacing lupins with field peas.

He said in most parts of Western Australia sowing field peas in early May would result in severe blackspot epidemics and the collapse of the crop.

“The Western Australian season finishes 7-14 days earlier than the field pea growing regions of South Australia.  Therefore, Western Australian growers have enjoyed more success in using the crop-topping of field pea as a tool in managing both ryegrass and wild radish. 

“The current attitude in Western Australia is that field pea is the best grain legume option for managing both grasses and broad leaf weeds.

“However, it is important we are not complacent and continue to improve the tolerance of crops to existing and novel herbicides.” 

Mr Seymour said varieties like Parafield and Kaspa had stimulated renewed interest in growing peas in SA and WA, and these varieties combined with improved understanding of management strategies required for disease control were likely to lead to increased yields.

However, he said ongoing breeding improvements combined with improved agronomic practices would still be required for peas to remain a viable and sustainable crop in the production system.