2021 Montana Cool-Season Spring Pulse Variety Evaluation Annual Report

Prepared By: William Franck, Sooyoung Franck and Chengci Chen

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Station in Sidney, MT coordinates an annual variety evaluation for cool season spring pulse crops (dry pea, lentil and chickpea) at multiple locations across the state of Montana. In 2021, funding for this project was obtained from the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, and testing fees from private entities submitting varieties and experimental lines for evaluation. The results provided in this report reflect the efforts of a large team of individuals from the Montana State University Agricultural Experiment Stations, Montana State University Extension, industrial partners from the seed industry and cooperating producers across the state. The following list provides contact information for many of the individuals involved in the 2021 variety evaluation.

Montana State University

Chengci Chen: Superintendent/Professor, Eastern Ag. Research Center
1501 North Central Ave, Sidney, MT 59270
(406) 433-2208, cchen@montana.edu

William Franck: Research Scientist, Eastern Ag. Research Center
1501 North Central Ave, Sidney, MT 59270
(406) 433-2208, william.franck@montana.edu

Kevin McPhee: Professor, Pulse Breeder, Plant Science and Plant Pathology
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-5156; kevin.mcphee@montana.edu 

Sooyoung Franck: Research Associate, Eastern Ag. Research Center
1501 North Central Ave, Sidney, MT 59270
(406) 433-2208, sooyoung.franck@montana.edu

Patrick Carr: Superintendent/Associate Professor, Central Ag Research Center
52583 US Hwy 87, Moccasin, MT, 59462
(406) 423-5421, patrick.carr@montana.edu 

Simon Fordyce: Research Associate
52583 US Hwy 87, Moccasin, MT, 59462
(406) 423-5421, simon.fordyce@montana.edu 

Justin Vetch: Superintendent/Assistant Professor, Western Triangle Ag. Research Center
9546 Old Shelby Road, Conrad, MT 59425
(406) 278-7707, justin.vetch1@montana.edu

Peggy Lamb: Research Scientist, Northern Ag. Research Center
3710 Assiniboine Road Havre, MT 59501
(406) 265-6115, plamb@montana.edu

Inga Hawbaker, Daniels County Extension Agent
106 Railroad Ave East Scobey, MT 59263
(406) 487-2861, inga.hawbaker@montana.edu

Shelley Mills, Valley County Extension Agent
501 Court Square Glasgow, MT 59230
(406) 228-6241, smills@montana.edu

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

George Vandemark: Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS
Pullman, WA 99164
(509) 335-7728, George.vandemark@ars.usda.gov

Rebecca McGee: Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS
Pullman, WA 99164
(509) 335-0300, Rebecca.mcgee@ars.usda.gov

North Dakota State University

Nonoy Bandillo: Assistant Professor, Pulse Breeder, Department of Plant Science
Fargo, ND
(701) 231-8056, nonoy.bandillo@ndsu.edu

University of Saskatchewan

Bunyamin Tar’an: Professor, Chickpea Breeder, Department of Plant Sciences
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2103, bunyamin.taran@usask.ca

Producers

Richard Fulton: Richland, MT

Marvin Tarum: Richland, MT

Industries

USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council
2780 W. Pullman Road Moscow, ID 83843
(208) 882-3023
pulse@pea-lentil.com; www.pea-lentil.com 

Kurt Braunwart, Nancy Powell, and Mike Wood
ProGene
860 S. Crestline Othello, WA, 99344
(509) 448-3977, kurt@progenellc.com; nancy@progenellc.com; mike@progenellc.com 

Northern Pulse Growers Association
1710 Burnt Boat Drive Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 222-0128, info@northernpulse.com; www.northernpulse.com

Emily Hill
Valesco Genetics
PO Box 128, Plaza, ND, 58771
(701) 497-3082, emily@valsceogenetics.com 

Ben Larson
Premier Genetics
33602 Highway 2 West, Berthold, ND 58718 
(406) 480-7812, ben@premiergeneticsllc.com 

Chad D. Anderson
ND Crop Improvement and Seed Assoc.
PO Box 5084 West Fargo, ND 58078
(701) 893-6069, chad@ndcropimprovement.com 

Charlie Cahill
Cahill Seeds
669 Highway 5, Scobey, MT 59263
(406) 783-5510, cahillseeds@nemontel.net 

Washington State Crop Improvement Assoc.
2575 NE Hopkins Court Pullman, WA 99163
(509) 334-0461, www.washingtoncrop.com

Tyler Kress
Pulse USA
2002 Northern Plains Drive
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 530-0734, tyler@pulseusa.com 

Martin Hochhalter
Meridian Seeds
216553 37th St. SE, Suite 3, Mapleton, ND
(204) 988-4681, mhochhalter@meridianseeds.com 

DISCLAIMER

The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station is implied. The results of individual trials and studies are considered to be of a PRELIMINARY nature and should NOT be considered as a product endorsement or recommendation for commercial use.

Project Description and Objective

Project Description

Cool season spring pulse crop (dry pea, lentil and chickpea) acreage in Montana has increased more than 10 fold in the past two decades. For more than a decade the Montana State University Agricultural Experiment Stations have conducted annual pulse crop variety evaluations across the state of Montana in an effort to improve yield and quality of these crops. The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (EARC) in Sidney, MT is currently coordinating these efforts. In 2021, trials were conducted at four MSU Agricultural Research Centers and a cooperating producer’s field south of Richland, Montana in the northeast corner of the state. The results reported herein are intended to aid producers, seed suppliers, breeders and the research community in variety development, selection and deployment. The report is available both in print and electronic formats and can be found at: agresearch.montana.edu/earc/annualreports.html.

Objective

The objective of this project is to evaluate yield and seed quality parameters for dry pea, lentil and chickpea cultivars and lines selected by stakeholder input across a broad range of Montana environments.

Methods

Procedures and Experimental Design

Eight dry pea, seven lentil and nine chickpea entries were selected by the EARC to trial at all locations. In addition, seed companies and pulse breeders with an interest in Montana pulse production were invited to submit cultivars or expermential lines for evaluation in 2021. Locations available for evaluation were indicated in the invitation letter and the selection of locations for each entry to be evaluated was determined by the submitting party. Dry peas were planted at four dryland locations and one irrigated location. Lentils and chickpeas were planted at three dryland locations and one irrigated location.

Seed for all entries were tested for germintation and treated with Obvius Fungicide (BASF Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC) and Cruiser 5FS Insecticide (Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., Greensboro, NC). Seeds were packaged on a per plot basis to obtain live seed rates of 8, 12 and 4 live seeds per ft2 for pea, lentil and chickpea, respectively. Seeds were sent to the cooperating research centers with an appropriate rhizobial inoculant to be applied at planting. Research plots were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates per entry. Plot size varied amongst locations and was dictated by the equipment available at each location. Management practices vary by location but are consistent with typical practices for that region. In season measurements and harvest data were collected by each cooperating center and sent to the EARC for analysis. Grain yield data was adjusted to 13% moisture content to facilitate comparison across locations.Dry pea protein concentrations were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) at the individual research centers. Analysis of variance was performed in R (version 4.0.3) and Fisher’s LSD was performed from the agricolae package (version 1.3-3) for mean comparison whenever the F-test was significant at P<0.05.

List of Collaborators and Locations

The type of crop (pea, lentil and chickpea) and number of entries for each of these crops evaluated at the different locations varied from location to location depending on the interest of seed suppliers and availability of resources at the respective location. The list of locations, collaborators and the type of crops evaluated at each location is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Collaborators, locations and crops evaluated in 2021

*CARC = Central Agricultural Research Center, EARC = Eastern Agricultural Research Center, NARC = Northern Agricultural Research Center, WTARC = Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, ‘X’ indicates the collaborator participated for the specific crop variety evaluation in 2021.

Precipitation and Cultural Practices

Precipitation, site information and agronomic management practices for the respective locations are summarized in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2. Site characteristics for each trial location

* Data from Opheim, MT weather station US 00246238 approximately 12 miles from trial location.

Table 3. Major agronomic management practices for each location in 2021

List of Varieties

Table 4 includes the list of varieties and experimental lines evaluated in 2021. Additional information for these entries can be obtained by contacting the respective seed suppliers listed in the acknowledgements section. Entries listed in this table include varieties requested by seed suppliers, varieties selected as check varieties by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and experimental lines from the Montana State University, North Dakota State University and USDA-ARS pulse crop breeding programs.

Table 4. Dry pea, lentil and chickpea entries included in 2021 variety evaluation trials

Results

Dry Pea Variety Evaluation in 2021

Fifty seven dry pea varieties and experimental lines (42 yellow and 15 green) were evaluated in 2021 at five locations. Four yellow pea and two green pea cultivars were selected as check varieties and tested at all locations. Eleven experimental lines originate from university and government breeding programs. The remaining entries are cultivars and breeding lines from private entities and were tested only at locations requested by the seed supplier. Results are presented in two groups based on cotyledon color (yellow and green).

Results of the 2021 dry pea variety evaluations are presented in Tables 5-10 for yellow peas and Tables 6-10 for green peas. Reported data include yield, protein, thousand kernel weight, test weight, plant height at harvest and days to flowering. Three year averages for 2019 through 2021 are presented for the Havre, Moccasin, and Richland locations for entries with three years of data. Statistical analyses (analysis of variance) were performed for each parameter measured at a given location except in instances of abundant missing data. Two replicates of the pea trial at Havre were severely damaged by gophers and therefore no statistical analysis was performed. In this instance, the data presented is an average of 2, 3 or 4 replicates from unaffected plots varying by entry.

Yields for the 2021 growing season were low for all tested locations ranging from 2644 lb/a at Sidney to 1240 lb/a at Richland. Growing season precipitation values at the four dryland locations were 56 to 85 percent of normal in 2021. The Havre, Moccasin and Richland locations received below normal precipitation for the 2020 calendar year as well. Yields under irrigation in Sidney were negatively impacted due to early and prolonged heat. Overall, yields were very similar for green and yellow peas.

Seed protein levels were higher in 2021 relative to the past two seasons. The combination of heat and drought across much of the state might have resulted in higher protein. In 2021, protein measurements were conducted at the individual research centers in contrast to 2020 where all measurments were conducted at the EARC. Therefore, caution is advised when comparing protein values across locations due to differences in instrumentation. All locations averaged more than 25 percent protein for both green and yellow peas. Individual entries ranged from 23 percent to 30 percent protein. Average yellow pea protein at the Havre location was five percentage points higher in 2021 than 2020 and 2019. Part of this gain can be attributed to the addition of higher protein breeding lines to the 2021 trial. However, cultivars trialed in all three years were three to four percentage points higher at Havre in 2021 as well. On the other hand, average yellow pea protein at the Richland location gained only a single percentage point relative to 2020 and 2019 with many cultivars producing nearly identical protein across the three years. Interestingly, yellow pea yields at Richland in 2021 were reduced 60 percent relative to 2019 and 75 percent relative to 2020 with very small changes in observed seed protein levels.

Table 5. Yellow Dry Pea Grain Yield (lb/a) with Three Year Averages in parentheses

Table 6. Yellow Dry Pea Protein* (%)

*Note: Protein measurements for each location were obtained from the responsible research center. Caution is advised comparing protein values across locations as some variation between instruments is expected.

Table 7. Yellow Dry Pea Thousand Kernel Weight (g)

Table 8. Yellow Dry Pea Test Weight (lb/bu)

Table 9. Yellow Dry Pea Plant Height (cm)

Table 10. Yellow Dry Pea Days to Flowering

Table 11. Green Dry Pea Grain Yield (lb/a) with Three Year Averages in parentheses

Table 12. Green Dry Pea Protein* (%)

*Note: Protein measurements for each location were obtained from the responsible research center. Caution is advised comparing protein values across locations as some variation between instruments is expected.

Table 13. Green Dry Pea Thousand Kernel Weight (g)

Table 14. Green Dry Pea Test Weight (lb/bu)

Table 15. Green Dry Pea Plant Height (cm)

Table 16. Green Dry Pea Days to Flowering

Lentil Variety Evaluation in 2021

In 2021, ten lentil entries were evaluated at four locations (three dryland and one irrigated). Seven entries were tested at all locations. Included in the entry list were seven cultivars and three breeding lines. Results of the 2021 lentil variety evaluations are presented in Tables 17-21. Reported data include yield, thousand kernel weight, test weight, plant height at harvest and days to flowering. Three year averages for 2019 through 2021 are presented for the Havre, Richland and Sidney locations for entries with three years of data. Three year averages are not included for Conrad as no trial was run in 2020. Lentil yields in Conrad were higher than at the other two dryland locations due to drought (Havre and Richland) and yields in Sidney were adversely affected by heat. Average yields for Havre and Richland in 2021 are amongst the lowest observed dating back to 2011.

Table 17. Lentil Grain Yield (lb/a) with Three Year Averages in parentheses

Table 18. Lentil Thousand Kernel Weight (g)

Table 19. Lentil Test Weight (lb/bu)

Table 20. Lentil Plant Height (cm)

Table 21. Lentil Days to Flowering

Chickpea Variety Evaluation in 2021

The 2021 statewide chickpea variety evaluation included fifteen varieties (ten Kabuli type and five Desi type) of which only one is a breeding line with the remainder being cultivars. Trials were conducted at three dryland locations and one irrigated location. Data for yield, plant height at harvest and seed size are presented in Tables 22-24. Average yield for the three year period spanning 2019 though 2021 is presented for those entries at Richland and Sidney that were trialed in all three years. Three year averages are not presented for the other locations as no trial was run at Conrad in 2020 and the 2019 Havre trial was lost to deer/antelope.

In 2021, below average yields were observed at the three dryland locations. At the Richland location, several kabuli cultivars (New Hope, Royal and Sierra) were severly damaged by antelope which is reflected in the abnormally low yields for those cultivars. Ascochyta pressure was minimal at the four tested locations. Seed size was evaluated for the Richland and Sidney locations using a sieve with 8.73 mm (22/64 in) diameter round openings. The percentage of seeds greater than 8.73 mm in diameter decreased at both locations relative to 2020.

Table 22. Chickpea Grain yield (lb/a) with Three Year Averages in parentheses

Note: Cultivars damaged by deer/antelope at Richland are marked with an asterisk

Table 23. Chickpea Plant Height (cm)

Table 24. Chickpea Seed Size (% greater than 8.73 mm)

FUTURE PLANS

The EARC will continue to lead the statewide variety evaluations in the coming years as long as there is a need from pulse growers, seed industries, breeders, and there is funding to support the effort.

Note: The data and summaries presented in this report are for informational purposes only. Inclusion and or exclusion of any commercial variety in this summary does not constitute a recommendation by Montana State University Agricultural Experiment Station or EARC.

DISCLAIMER: The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station is implied. The results of individual trials and studies are considered to be of a PRELIMINARY nature and should NOT be considered as a product endorsement or recommendation for commercial use.