United Kingdom
February 8, 2021
Tim Lamyman
Excellent yields and the early maturity of spring bean variety: LG Raptor, have delighted Lincolnshire grower, Tim Lamyman. We ask Tim to share his thoughts on the crop and how he achieved these top yields.
Harvested on the 16th September, the crop yielded 7.1 t/ha with a moisture content of 14.5%.
Reflecting on the growing season, Mr. Lamyman says: “We particularly noticed the high number of pods per plant, which was around 30. These pods were consistent in size, and this has obviously translated into yield.”
“We were a bit short of seed, so we planted at 200 kg/ha, rather than the recommended rate of 250 kg/ha.” As a result, there were 28 to 35 plants/m2. He firmly believes he could have pushed the yield further with more seed.
The spring beans follow spring barley in a rotation. “The field chosen for the crop was a south-facing grade 2 chalky Wold clay, which offers the potential for well-structured root systems, enabling easier nutrient uptake – which I believe is key to a high yielding crop.”
Mr. Lamyman believes that well-targeted crop nutrition is critical to success, and follows a strategy aimed at getting the young crop established and away promptly.
“We applied 1 l/ha 1-4-All and 2 l/ha of ToPPit (a liquid fertiliser containing phosphorus, potassium and micro elements) to reduce stress and strengthen the roots, helping the crop get away.”
LG Raptor
Prompt establishment and vigour from his crop nutrition strategy also helped to reduce any susceptibility to downy mildew, he adds.
To keep feeding and increasing biomass, another 2 l/ha application of ToPPit was made at early flowering, with 1 l/ha XStress (used to enhance photosynthesis and growth), and 0.5 l/ha CalFlux (used to help the flowering part of the plant). This was followed at mid to late term with 1 l/ha X-Stress and 1 l/ha CalFlux.”
Calcium is an essential part of the cell structure of new growth, and if a plant is put under environmental stresses at the flowering time, this can lead to almost complete pod abortion – as happened this spring, he says. He uses CalFlux because he finds it penetrates the flowers and remains there for the plant to draw on in stressful times, instead of using the calcium from the new growth.
“This spring, it was an essential requirement for pulse crops to have XStress and CalFlux technology, to get them through the incredibly dry spring we had.”
“We will be growing LG Raptor again in 2021. What we liked most about LG Raptor is its early maturity, which is difficult to find, stiff straw and the first-rate yield.”
Pulses product manager for Limagrain, Tom Barker, believes that LG Raptor gives farmers a new option in spring beans, combining early maturity and high yield.
With its high yield of 105% of control, good early maturity (7), and all-round agronomic package, growers should be excited by LG Raptor. It is suitable for the human consumption market, export and protein markets, and will certainly be a variety to watch out for.
All information is from the PGRO Descriptive List 2021, available at www.pgro.org
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