A crop of LG Stallion blue peas has yielded a record 7.48t/ha at 15.04% moisture. The last world record was also set by a crop of LG Stallion back in 2017, which yielded 6.47t/ha at an average 15.35% moisture.

Harvested on Saturday 7th September at Worlaby Farm in Lincolnshire, grower Tim Lamyman is delighted with both the yields and quality to come off the crop.

“Who would have thought that 2019 would be the year for a world record crop!” he says. I am thrilled with the performance of the peas as they have showed real promise all season long.”

“The crop has shown a consistency in biomass through the season, much more so than last year. In places the crop was 6ft tall – and this has obviously translated into yield.”

LG Stallion was the field pea variety of choice, selected for its high yield potential and good standing ability.This is the third year that Mr Lamyman has grown the variety, breaking the world record yield in 2017, and having success again with the variety in the very difficult season of 2018 when it yielded 5.6t/ha at 14.76% moisture.

The peas follow a second wheat in the seven year rotation which also includes wheats, spring barley and oilseed rape. “The field chosen for the crop is much like last year, a grade 2 chalky loam which offers the potential for well-structured root systems enabling easier nutrient uptake – which I believe is key to a high yielding crop,” says Mr Lamyman.

“As the spring was so dry, we adapted our cultivations for the peas through an intensive min-till approach which allowed us to create a more level seed bed.”

Before drilling, the field had two passes with a Lemkin Terradisc and finished with a Vaderstad carrier (discs and crumble roller) and rolled with Cambridge rollers the day after drilling

“This gave us a really nice and even seed bed.”

The crop was drilled on 9th April using a Vaderstad Rapid with the coulters set at a 4 inch row width. The seed was treated with Wakil XL + GPA, with the aim of early downy mildew control from the Wakil XL and better root development as well as plant establishment with the phosphite-based nutrient GPA.
Established plant populations were 85 plants/m2, he says.

Mr Lamyman believes that detailed and well-targeted crop nutrition is critical to his success. “Leaf samples were taken at four different stages through the crop’s growth cycle in order to identify nutrient deficiencies to which the relevant products were then applied as required.”

“Foliar applications were similar to those used in 2018. An early insecticide (50ml Hallmark) was applied for weevil damage. Just before flowering 2 l/ha of ToPPit +1 l/ha of Rainbow Wave went on.”

ToPPit is a 0-30-40 liquid fertiliser containing phosphorus, potassium and a range of micro-elements. Rainbow Wave contains boron and molybdenum.

“In 2017 we had virus in the crop, so this year we paid particular attention to that applying Aphox early, this was particularly important this year given the high aphid numbers.”

At flowering, the tank mix consisted of 280g/ha Aphox, 1l/ha X-Stress, 2l/ha ToPPit, 0.5kg/ha Signum and 0.5l/ha Calflux.

The X-Stress is used to prevent a plant shutting down its stomatal and root absorption processes under stressful conditions. It does this by enhancing photosynthesis and growth by providing essential micro elements, including the correct proportions of iron, zinc, manganese and cooper, as well as magnesium and glycine.

Two weeks later another spray containing 2l/ha ToPPit, 0.5l/ha Calflux, 1l/ha X-Stress as well as 50ml/ha Hallmark, went on.

“Calflux is a key component in any record attempt as when the plant experiences stress, explains Tim.

“It will draw calcium from the flowering nodes and this can lead to pods and flowers aborting, and this is exactly what happened in the dry spring.”

“As harvest approached and the weather continued to be very changeable we decided to apply some Reglone on 23rd August in case of a delay to harvest, and I am very glad that I did.

We are delighted to hear of such a high yield from the pea crop, says Chris Guest, Head of Seed for ADM Agriculture.

“Last year, Tim focussed on achieving the highest yields whilst still maintaining the full green colour which is so important for top grade human consumption quality. However this year he has pushed for out and out yield.”

“Achieving more stable yields with the pea crop is something that we see as highly important for the long term future of the combinable pea crop within the UK farm rotation. Over the last two years, we have seen the benefit of micro-nutrients in peas – an important consideration for anybody planning the farm rotation based on a long term view.”

“We see some of the highest first wheat yields following peas – and as such the two year gross margin is something that is important to consider.”