Grain yield and flowering of some introduced grain legumes in South Australia

Abstract

Data are presented for time of flowering, total shoot dry weight and grain yield of White Brunswick pea (Pisum sativum), six introduced peas and one introduction each of Lathyrus sativus and Lathyrus cicera from ten plot experiments conducted in South Australia over the period 1955-1 960.None of the introduced legumes flowered earlier than White Brunswick peas and only one, possibly, has a greater capacity for higher grain yield. L. cicera on the other hand gave 25 per cent greater yield over all sites and seasons with an average of 2.84 tonne ha-1.The ratio between grain yield and total shoot dry weight varied with genotype and between seasons with a genotype. A low ratio was not always associated with low dry matter production.