Optimising Mungbean Yields - Project D - Optimising Yield Through Regionally Specific Mungbean Agronomy

⁠⁠⁠Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is now established as an important spring, summer rotation crop for cereal-based farming systems in the northern region. Current production of mungbean in the northern grains region extends from southern NSW to the Burdekin region in QLD. Mungbean also has a role for irrigated agriculture including coastal sugarcane areas and the inland dry tropics.

Mungbean production reached a peak in 2009-10 and has steadily declined since. In 2012-13 the farm gate value was over $65 million. Around 95% of mungbean produced in Australia are exported to Japan, India, the USA and the Philippines for human consumption as sprouts and cooking, therefore, grain quality is paramount.

Growers choose to grow mungbean as:
* A stand-alone high value profitable crop choice;
* A double crop opportunity immediately following a winter crop (e.g. wheat);
* An effective management tool to combat Feather-top Rhodes and other summer grass weeds; and
* An opportunity crop shifting from a summer crop cycle to a winter crop cycle.

Mungbean are a notoriously unreliable crop to grow and are considered “high risk” by many growers. While the target yield for mungbean is 2 t/ha, the average actual yield across all growing regions is 0.9 t/ha.

There are significant gaps in our knowledge of the drivers of yield, crop nutrition requirements and optimal irrigation management for mungbean. Significant opportunity exists to capitalise on improved yield reliability of newer mungbean varieties through optimised agronomic management. There is a need to elucidate appropriate mungbean management for:
* A summer grain double crop opportunity immediately following a winter crop (e.g. wheat); and,
* A summer grain crop in its own right, rather than an opportunistic crop.

There is also potential to move towards much higher yields under irrigated systems if management practices targeting yield potential are developed through improved physiological understanding.

Investment
The GRDC proposes to invest in a program of agronomy and crop physiology to optimise mungbean yields in the northern region (see diagram). The investment consisting of four projects will increase our understanding of the key factors influencing growth and yield under a range of environmental and management conditions.
The GRDC seeksproviders to undertake Project D - Optimising yield through regionally specific mungbean agronomy packages.

Intermediate Outcome
By September 2022, grain growers have strategies to overcome mungbean yield constraints.

Expected Outcomes
Output 1
By June 2022, management strategies to optimise mungbean profitability and reduce production risk.

Details
A field-based tactical agronomy trial program should be developed in Central Queensland, Southern Queensland and NSW in collaboration with Project A, Output 1 and with local growers and agronomists.
The program should establish a minimum of 4 instrumented field sites to address local mungbean yield constraints including (but not limited to) nutrition, root lesion nematodes and disease across a range of farming systems.
This milestone is a STOP/GO for Output 2 and 3.

Output 2
By March 2022, a collection of regionally specific (analysed) and published materials on mungbean best management practice.

Details
Review and update published technical manuals, including (but not limited to) the:
Best Management Practice Training Course “Industry Accredited Agronomists” (GRDC, QDAF, AMA, NSW DPI, Pulse Australia), and
GRDC Mungbean Grownote – North.

Output 3
By June 2022, participatory mungbean extension program focused on closing the yield gap.

Details
It is anticipated 6 extension activities will be held each year during the period 2019-2022. Activities should include (but are not limited to) field days, forums, and industry training to ensure research outcomes are delivered to growers and that there is opportunity for growers to provide feedback to researchers.

Output 4
By May each year, an Annual Results Report (ARR) collating and summarising the activities, key results and implications of the project.

Details
The aim of the ARR is to detail rationale, methodology, and implications of the work.
The report will be structured using the GRDC Annual Results Report (ARR) template and submitted to the GRDC for approval.
The content of the reports will be used in GRDC publications for distribution to grain growers as determined by the GRDC.

Output 5
By September 2022, a Final Technical Report (FTR) collating and summarising the background, aims, objectives, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, recommendations and implications from the work.

Details
The aim of the report is to provide an overall interpretation of the work.
The report will be structured using the GRDC Final Technical Report (FTR) template and submitted to the GRDC for approval.
The content of the reports will be used in GRDC publications for distribution to grain growers as determined by the GRDC.