PGRO demonstrates comprehensive research and trials programme at 2011 Pulse Trials Day
PGRO Members who came to the organisations 2011 Pulses Trials Day on 6thJuly were given an update on research work as well as tours of the trials plots at Thornhaugh.
Sources of additional funding are vital to maintain the wide ranging R&D programme, explained Dr Biddle. We are proud of the fact that, for very 1 of Pulse Levy, PGRO carries out 2 worth of work.
Our pulse crop research programme is based on priorities set by the Pulse Panel. We have around 400,000 of pulse levy available for R&D work with varieties, pest and disease control and agronomy as our main priorities.
The presentations of research-based work started with Becky Ward of PGRO who gave an update on forecasting and monitoring Bruchid beetle, and described the developments of a web-based forecasting system using modelling from temperature, trap, and crop growth stage data..
James Holmes of HGCA discussed the project examining best practice for estimating soil nitrogen supply (SNS). Preliminary results for peas and beans suggest that there seems to be more N available than expected from soil mineral N tests. Results from the analyses will be available later in the summer.
A farm-scale trial is in progress to look at different methods of combining pea establishment. PGROs Jim Scrimshaw explained that the trial was comparing direct drilling with min-till vs. conventional drilling techniques.
Next, members toured the site at Thornhaugh to examine the trials-based work in the 2011 season. Included in the tour were Recommended List trials for combining peas and winter and spring field beans as well as variety screening trials. There were also Herbicide varietal screening to evaluate the susceptibility to pre- and post-emergence herbicide applications and plots evaluating combining peas for varietal susceptibility to pea powdery mildew
QDiPS plots with lines of vining and marrowfat peas from 2009 crosses were being grown for multiplication. QDiPS is the BBSRC/DEFRA project that seeks tounderstand the Quality Determinants in vining and marrowfat Pea Seeds to improve market opportunities that promote sustainable agriculture.
In addition to the combining crop trials, it is worth noting that the Thornhaugh site also includes a wide range of separate trials on vining peas, green beans, broad beans and vegetables. Also that there are PGRO trials sites at Thorney (PCGIN combining peas), four sites looking at response of bean varieties to downy mildew control, and the combing pea establishment site near March.
PGRO is the non statutory levy body which promotes and carries out research and development in peas and beans.PGRO growing guides and recommended lists of varieties are the national references for growers. The PGRO publishes ‘The Pulse Magazine’ quarterly, the ‘Pulse Agronomy Guide’ annually, issues bulletins during the growing season, provides educationand training courses, and runs grower / agronomist meetings around the UK.