Key Points:
- Low plant establishment can cost farmers over $1000/ha.
- Slowing drilling speed by 5km/hr increased plant population by 35 plants/m2.
- Weed competition as a result of cultivation system reduced yield by $700/ha.
- Yield differences between cultivation techniques were very small but there were large differences in the number of passes (2 to 9) farmers used to establish crops. Costs of establishment ranged from $93 to $443/ha.
- In numerous trials and paddock comparisons there was no yield response to applying fertiliser to peas.
- The lost income from applying fertiliser to pea crops was as high as $570/ha.
- A number of targets exist which can indicate the yield potential of the crop.
- Across 57 paddocks the actual yield was, on average 2.4t/ha or $2400/ha below the potential yield.
- Water can severely limit pea yields in some conditions. In the field water use efficiency ranged from 7 to 22kg seed/ha/mm.