Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Agronomic: other, peas (field, cowpeas)

• Vegetables: lentils

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: biological control, chemical control, cultural control, weed ecology

• Crop Production: continuous cropping, crop rotation, drought tolerance, intercropping

• Production Systems: organic agriculture, transitioning to organic

• Soil Management: soil quality/health

Pulse crops (dry edible pea, lentil, chickpea, faba bean and dry bean) are healthful food choices that are also vital components of cropping systems in semi-arid regions of the north central region. They are high-value crops that require no additional nitrogen fertilization and provide a nitrogen credit to the following crop due to biological nitrogen fixation. Pulse crops require little moisture, and are well suited to reduced tillage systems. The addition of pulse crops into traditional wheat-fallow cropping systems has been an economic boon to rural communities. However, including these crops into rotations has led to new and challenging disease and pest problems.  Pulse crops are primarily grown for human consumption. Thus, mitigation of these threats in a manner that meets growing consumer expectations of sustainability and a reduction in the use of pesticides is a paramount. Pesticide resistance is becoming increasingly problematic among the most important foliar diseases of pea, lentil and chickpea, thus communication across growing regions and surveillance efforts will be paramount in monitoring the spread of pesticide resistant pathogens. The pulse crops working group (PCWG) fosters collaborative relationships among researchers, extension professionals, industry stakeholders and growers through face-to-face meetings and virtual interaction to address growing IPM priorities in pulse crops. The group will also continue to produce educational outreach materials that correspond to grower needs.  In 2022, the PCWG will produce the third season of its popular Growing Pulse Crops podcast focused on IPM and risk management in pulse crops to reach a diverse audience of stakeholders and increase IPM adoption. The PCWG will also add a chickpea disease diagnostic series to its popular series of field durable diagnostic cards to improve diagnosis and management of disease in this crop.

1. Foster collaborative relationships among researchers, extension professionals and industry stakeholders through face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings and virtual interaction on our Basecamp site to address IPM research priorities.
2. Determine grower and industry needs for research, education, and outreach materials to increase adoption of IPM practices.
3. Collaboratively produce educational materials to meet identified grower needs including a pulse crops podcast series with a focus on IPM and a chickpea disease diagnostic guide.