A Hurricane XT, Nipper flowers later than Nugget but often matures earlier than Nugget. PBA Hurricane XT has superseded Nipper. Nipper variety management package (VMP)
Nugget is a medium-seeded red lentil that became the standard red lentil variety in southern Australia for yield and marketing. Newer variety releases, PBA Bolt and PBA Ace, are generally considered more reliable for yield and quality, and so have superseded Nugget. Nugget variety management package (VMP)
Older red lentil varieties
Green lentil varieties
When choosing a variety, consider the disease risk, seasonal outlook and market forecast. The agronomic traits of the current red lentil varieties are provided below along with yield, diseases resistance and seed availability comparisons. The variety management package for each variety provides more detailed information.
Boomer is a large-seeded green lentil that is tall and vigorous but can lodge when growing conditions are favourable. Sowing early can increase lodging and result in smaller than expected seed at harvest. Boomer is moderately resistant to foliar infection by ascochyta blight (AB) but moderately susceptible to seed infection. It is moderately resistant to botrytis grey mould (BGM). Early harvest is important to prevent shattering and maintain good coloured seed. Boomer variety management package (VMP)
PBA Giant is a significant improvement on the large green lentil variety Boomer, having yields 5–10% on average greater than Boomer in Victoria with similar yields in South Australia. On-farm storage will provide strategic marketing options for growers of this variety. PBA Giant has improved shattering resistance compared to Boomer, it is broadly adapted and best suited to the medium rainfall lentil growing regions. It has good early vigour, similar to PBA Ace and Boomer. It is moderately resistant to ascochyta blight and MS to BGM, and has improved tolerance to soil boron, similar to PBA Jumbo, PBA Flash and PBA Bolt. It is well suited to the removal of small broadleaf weed seeds from the harvest sample. PBA Giant variety management package (VMP)
PBA Greenfield is a medium-sized green lentil and is now the highest yielding green lentil variety available in Australia (average yield is 11–14% higher than the red lentil variety, Nugget). This variety represents a new market opportunity for Australian growers. PBA Greenfield is a broadly adapted variety with early vigour, well suited to medium rainfall lentil growing regions, similar to PBA Ace and Boomer. It is moderately resistant to BGM and MR/MS to foliar and seed/pod AB with an improved tolerance to soil salinity, similar to PBA Flash and PBA Bolt. PBA Greenfield variety management package (VMP)
Lentil is best suited to locations that receive an annual rainfall of 350–500 mm. In drier or colder areas, lentil plants may not grow tall enough to be harvested efficiently. Lentil is particularly sensitive to waterlogging. Spring sowing may be an option on some deeper, heavier soils in higher rainfall areas.
Checklist for lentil paddock selection:
- Is the rainfall greater than 350 mm/yr (plus good sub-soil moisture?
- If the rainfall is >550 mm/yr, is delayed or spring sowing possible?
- Is the soil heavy and deep enough to hold sufficient water to finish the season?
- Is it a friable soil that does not set excessively hard on the surface?
- Is soil pH between 6 and 8 (CaCl2)?
- Is the soil free draining (i.e. no waterlogging)?
- Is the paddock free of surface stones and sticks, and relatively flat?
- Are plant-back periods and rainfall accounted for to avoid herbicide residue impacts?
- Is control of weeds possible?
- Is the broadleaf weed and herbicide resistant annual ryegrass burden low?
Consideration of likely broadleaf weeds is essential. Lentil plants are poor competitors with weeds, but a range of registered herbicides and crop production options are available to provide effective weed control prior to sowing and in-crop. Note that these herbicides can affect lentil yields, and there are differences in variety sensitivities to specific he