Agrii's Trial - Assessing the beneficial effect of pulse and legume crops on successive non-leguminous crops through different nitrogen rates and products

The aim of our small plot trials is to assess the beneficial effects of pulse and legume crops on successive non-leguminous crops, such as cereals, across the rotation. For this year we have six winter wheat trials running at our Stow Longa Technology Centre in Cambridgeshire. 

These wheat trials are drilled over the top of where different pulse and legume species were last season. The species that were drilled last year comprised of winter and spring beans, combining peas, chickpeas, lupins and haricot beans.

The winter wheat plots will compare four rates of nitrogen this spring and we will be evaluating two nitrogen products across a three-split programme. The objectives of the trial is to understand how the different pulse species will benefit the wheat through residual nitrogen left and how this will aid a reduction in nitrogen rates whilst not impacting yield. Lastly, we want to understand how use of different nitrogen products can reduce losses to the environment.

Our trials will utilise real-time soil nitrate sensors to determine nitrogen availability during crop rotations and we will closely monitor the trials through RHIZA remote sensing capabilities and via drone flight software, Skippy Scout.