Field peas have proved their worth during the dry season with an excellent harvest result in the north eastern wheatbelt.

Western Australia Department of Agriculture and Food development officer Wayne Parker (photo) highlighted the success of a Kaspa crop east of Maya which yielded 960 kilograms/hectare on just 70mm of growing season rainfall.

Mr Parker said the yield could be attributed to a number of factors including an early May sowing and nil Blackspot disease pressure due to 240mm of rainfall from January to April.

“A thunderstorm in April was enough to get the crop established and the summer rainfall in the soil profile helped the crop to grow through long periods without rain, perfectly stopping any Blackspot,” Mr Parker said.

“The variety itself played a big part in the overall result. The upright nature of the semi-leafless Kaspa and its sugar pod trait are real winners at harvest.

“The tendrils help provide support to the plant and keep the canopy higher off the ground. This helps during harvest as the pods are higher off the ground, making it easier to get the comb beneath them.”

Mr Parker said the sugar pod trait also ensured very little seed was lost by pod shatter, and as a result there was almost no grain left on the ground after harvest.

The summer rains and April thunderstorm not only allowed early sowing with nil Blackspot pressure but also knockdown control of germinating weeds.

The main change to the crop’s management would be to roll the paddock after seeding. A number of soil clods went through the harvester despite the higher canopy.

Mr Parker said Kaspa paddocks should be rolled after seeding.