Managing frost and heat in lentil and faba bean

Pulses are growing in popularity as a result of good prices and rotational benefits such as decreased N input and enhanced grass weed control options. However frost and combinations of water and heat stress at critical growth stages can compromise crop yield. Previous work in pulses has established that the most important time to maintain growth and limit stress is the period around pod set. Sowing date and variety choice are the two main tools to manipulate time of flowering and pod-set, and thus manage the risk of extreme temperatures, water stress and the trade-off between frost and heat risk.This research aims to identify the safer temperature windows for the critical period for yield for faba bean and lentil in cropping regions of southern Australia. This work follows on from EPFS Summary 2016 p62, EPFS Summary 2017, p146 and EPFS Summary 2018, p62.