New GRDC Lentil project funded on EP

A new 3-year project has been funded by GRDC to explore growing lentils on ‘challenging’ soils across EP. The project, led by AIR EP will fund 4 trials per year, which will be delivered by the EPAG Research team. The four sites on EP in 2025 are located at Rudall, Wangary, Poochera and Lock. Two trials have also been sown to cereal at Wirrulla and Lock in preparation to be be sown with on-row/off-row treatments in 2026.

Rudall: Landscape trial – plots are 130m long – stretching from heavy sodic flat up to sandhill (3 replicates), with patches of limestone. Treatments include sowing rates, depths and nutrition types and rates.

Wangary: (pictured) Ameliorated (delved) acidic soil that has been limed 3 years ago. High rainfall area, not traditionally lentil growing area. Treatments include inoculants, sowing depths and nutrition.

Poochera and Lock: Located on highly calcareous sandy loam soils. The Lock site receives more rainfall and has higher yield potential. Treatments include nutrition types and rates, sowing rates and depths, and inoculants.

Above: Lentil trial near Wangary on 30 June 2025, sown ‘dryish’, with emergence on 1o June.

Project name: NGN Establishing and growing lentils on challenging soil types on the Eyre Peninsula

Project code: AIP2504-001SAX