Lentils on challenging soils – trials continue in 2026

Lentils have quickly grown into an important and often profitable part of Eyre Peninsula farming systems. Strong historical prices, improved varieties and better agronomy have encouraged growers to expand into new areas. However, recent price movements and variable seasons are a reminder that profitability still depends on reliable establishment, careful paddock selection and good risk management.

The GRDC funded 'Establishing and growing lentils on challenging soil types on the Eyre Peninsula' project is testing practical ways to improve lentil establishment and yield across difficult Eyre Peninsula soil types.

In 2025, trials at Rudall, Wangary, Poochera and Lock showed that soil type, inoculation and phosphorus availability can strongly affect performance. Some sites responded well to improved nutrition and inoculation, while others remained limited by soil constraints and low water-holding capacity.

Four new trial sites have been established for 2026:

• Wirrulla: Sown on 15 April, comparing on-row and off-row sowing to see how the previous cereal row impacts lentil establishment and performance.
• Verran: Sown on 25 May, comparing delved and non-delved sandy soil, along with different nutrition treatments.
• Lock: Sown on 27 May, testing on-row and off-row sowing treatments on saline soil.
• Coulta: Sown on 5 June, investigating nutrition, sowing rates, sowing depth and inoculation on calcareous soil.

Read the full results for 2025 and follow the 2026 trials on the AIR EP project page

https://airep.com.au/research/growing-lentils-on-challenging-soils-on-eyre-peninsula/