Can we breed pulses that fix more nitrogen—and leave more value for the next crop? Australian research is exploring how improved nitrogen fixation in chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, lupins, field peas and mungbeans could benefit farming systems.In this episode of In The Paddock — Field Notes, farmer and agronomist Martin Murray examines the breeding work, explains the biology and asks what it could mean for growers’ rotations and fertiliser budgets.First, though, a reality check: pulses don’t automatically leave a huge nitrogen surplus. They use nitrogen to grow and produce grain, and harvesting that grain removes much of it. Nitrogen fixed by a pulse crop is not the same as nitrogen available to the following wheat or canola crop.IN THIS EPISODE• How rhizobia and root nodules help pulses access atmospheric nitrogen.• Why crop growth and soil nitrate affect nitrogen fixation.• The Australian research programme targeting six pulse crops.• How breeders could combine useful genetic traits through “haplotype stacking”.• Why a target of at least 10% improved fixation does not mean a 10% fertiliser saving.• Grain nitrogen removal, residual benefits and the importance of the whole rotation.• What needs proving before improved genetics reach commercial paddocks.Better nitrogen fixation could be valuable—but it must work alongside competitive grain yield, disease resistance and suitable maturity. We explore the questions farmers should ask before assigning a dollar value to the potential benefits.HAVE YOUR SAYIf two pulse varieties yielded the same, would stronger nitrogen fixation influence your choice? What evidence of a benefit to the following crop would convince you?MORE FROM IN THE PADDOCKPractical agronomy, Australian farming and emerging agricultural research:<a href="https://inthepaddock.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://inthepaddock.au/</a>Follow In The Paddock for more Field Notes episodes, and share this episode with a grower or agronomist interested in pulse crops, soil fertility and nitrogen management.SOURCES & FURTHER READINGGRDC GroundCover — Stacking the genetics of nitrogen fixation in pulses:<a href="https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/plant-breeding/stacking-the-genetics-of-nitrogen-fixation-in-pulses" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/plant-breeding/stacking-the-genetics-of-nitrogen-fixation-in-pulses</a>Australian National University — Pulse nitrogen fixation research:<a href="https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/projects/genetic-initiative-to-transform-symbiotic-nitrogen-fixation-in-au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/projects/genetic-initiative-to-transform-symbiotic-nitrogen-fixation-in-au/</a>NSW DPIRD — Nitrogen benefits of chickpea and faba bean:<a href="https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-information/nitrogen-chickpea-faba-bean" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-information/nitrogen-chickpea-faba-bean</a>Evans and colleagues (2001) — Grain-legume nitrogen balances and contributions to wheat nitrogen uptake:<a href="https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/items/6baad1e6-1f3f-495e-884f-7091a2b0d617/full" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/items/6baad1e6-1f3f-495e-884f-7091a2b0d617/full</a>Pulse Australia — Environmental benefits and nitrogen removal in grain:<a href="https://www.pulseaus.com.au/using-pulses/environment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.pulseaus.com.au/using-pulses/environment</a>Research checked 26 October 2026. Improvement targets are research goals, not guaranteed outcomes or paddock-specific fertiliser recommendations. Historical trial findings illustrate variability; the worked nitrogen budget is hypothetical. Project completion dates are not confirmed commercial variety release dates.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Can we breed pulses that fix more nitrogen—and leave more value for the next crop? Australian research is exploring how improved nitrogen fixation in chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, lupins, field peas and mungbeans could benefit farming systems. In this episode of In The Paddock — Field Notes, farmer and agronomist Martin Murray examines the breeding work, explains the biology and asks what it could mean for growers’ rotations and fertiliser budgets. First, though, a reality check: pulses don’t automatically leave a huge nitrogen surplus. They use nitrogen to grow and produce grain, and harvesting that grain removes much of it. Nitrogen fixed by a pulse crop is not the same as nitrogen available to the following wheat or canola crop. IN THIS EPISODE • How rhizobia and root nodules help pulses access atmospheric nitrogen. • Why crop growth and soil nitrate affect nitrogen fixation. • The Australian research programme targeting six pulse crops. • How breeders could combine useful genetic traits through “haplotype stacking”. • Why a target of at least 10% improved fixation does not mean a 10% fertiliser saving. • Grain nitrogen removal, residual benefits and the importance of the whole rotation. • What needs proving before improved genetics reach commercial paddocks. Better nitrogen fixation could be valuable—but it must work alongside competitive grain yield, disease resistance and suitable maturity. We explore the questions farmers should ask before assigning a dollar value to the potential benefits. HAVE YOUR SAY If two pulse varieties yielded the same, would stronger nitrogen fixation influence your choice? What evidence of a benefit to the following crop would convince you? MORE FROM IN THE PADDOCK Practical agronomy, Australian farming and emerging agricultural research: https://inthepaddock.au/ Follow In The Paddock for more Field Notes episodes, and share this episode with a grower or agronomist interested in pulse crops, soil fertility and nitrogen management. SOURCES & FURTHER READING GRDC GroundCover — Stacking the genetics of nitrogen fixation in pulses: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/plant-breeding/stacking-the-genetics-of-nitrogen-fixation-in-pulses Australian National University — Pulse nitrogen fixation research: https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/projects/genetic-initiative-to-transform-symbiotic-nitrogen-fixation-in-au/ NSW DPIRD — Nitrogen benefits of chickpea and faba bean: https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-information/nitrogen-chickpea-faba-bean Evans and colleagues (2001) — Grain-legume nitrogen balances and contributions to wheat nitrogen uptake: https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/items/6baad1e6-1f3f-495e-884f-7091a2b0d617/full Pulse Australia — Environmental benefits and nitrogen removal in grain: https://www.pulseaus.com.au/using-pulses/environment Research checked 26 October 2026. Improvement targets are research goals, not guaranteed outcomes or paddock-specific fertiliser recommendations. Historical trial findings illustrate variability; the worked nitrogen budget is hypothetical. Project completion dates are not confirmed commercial variety release dates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can we breed pulses that fix more nitrogen—and leave more value for the next crop? Australian research is exploring how improved nitrogen fixation in chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, lupins, field peas and mungbeans could benefit farming systems.In this episode of In The Paddock — Field Notes, farmer and agronomist Martin Murray examines the breeding work, explains the biology and asks what it could mean for growers’ rotations and fertiliser budgets.First, though, a reality check: pulses don’t automatically leave a huge nitrogen surplus. They use nitrogen to grow and produce grain, and harvesting that grain removes much of it. Nitrogen fixed by a pulse crop is not the same as nitrogen available to the following wheat or canola crop.IN THIS EPISODE• How rhizobia and root nodules help pulses access atmospheric nitrogen.• Why crop growth and soil nitrate affect nitrogen fixation.• The Australian research programme targeting six pulse crops.• How breeders could combine useful genetic traits through “haplotype stacking”.• Why a target of at least 10% improved fixation does not mean a 10% fertiliser saving.• Grain nitrogen removal, residual benefits and the importance of the whole rotation.• What needs proving before improved genetics reach commercial paddocks.Better nitrogen fixation could be valuable—but it must work alongside competitive grain yield, disease resistance and suitable maturity. We explore the questions farmers should ask before assigning a dollar value to the potential benefits.HAVE YOUR SAYIf two pulse varieties yielded the same, would stronger nitrogen fixation influence your choice? What evidence of a benefit to the following crop would convince you?MORE FROM IN THE PADDOCKPractical agronomy, Australian farming and emerging agricultural research:<a href="https://inthepaddock.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://inthepaddock.au/</a>Follow In The Paddock for more Field Notes episodes, and share this episode with a grower or agronomist interested in pulse crops, soil fertility and nitrogen management.SOURCES &amp; FURTHER READINGGRDC GroundCover — Stacking the genetics of nitrogen fixation in pulses:<a href="https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/plant-breeding/stacking-the-genetics-of-nitrogen-fixation-in-pulses" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/plant-breeding/stacking-the-genetics-of-nitrogen-fixation-in-pulses</a>Australian National University — Pulse nitrogen fixation research:<a href="https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/projects/genetic-initiative-to-transform-symbiotic-nitrogen-fixation-in-au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/projects/genetic-initiative-to-transform-symbiotic-nitrogen-fixation-in-au/</a>NSW DPIRD — Nitrogen benefits of chickpea and faba bean:<a href="https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-information/nitrogen-chickpea-faba-bean" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-information/nitrogen-chickpea-faba-bean</a>Evans and colleagues (2001) — Grain-legume nitrogen balances and contributions to wheat nitrogen uptake:<a href="https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/items/6baad1e6-1f3f-495e-884f-7091a2b0d617/full" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/items/6baad1e6-1f3f-495e-884f-7091a2b0d617/full</a>Pulse Australia — Environmental benefits and nitrogen removal in grain:<a href="https://www.pulseaus.com.au/using-pulses/environment" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.pulseaus.com.au/using-pulses/environment</a>Research checked 26 October 2026. Improvement targets are research goals, not guaranteed outcomes or paddock-specific fertiliser recommendations. Historical trial findings illustrate variability; the worked nitrogen budget is hypothetical. Project completion dates are not confirmed commercial variety release dates. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Can We Breed Pulses That Fix More Nitrogen? | Field Notes

Massive rain events around the country a lot of growers are wondering what they can do to reduce water logging on their farm and how they can pick their crop back up out of water logging<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Massive rain events around the country a lot of growers are wondering what they can do to reduce water logging on their farm and how they can pick their crop back up out of water logging Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Massive rain events around the country a lot of growers are wondering what they can do to reduce water logging on their farm and how they can pick their crop back up out of water logging Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Waterlogged

Livestock are headers harvesting your grass and converting it into meat. If your headers aren’t functioning well you’re missing out on yield potential. How do you set up your place for the best grazing system<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Livestock are headers harvesting your grass and converting it into meat. If your headers aren’t functioning well you’re missing out on yield potential. How do you set up your place for the best grazing system Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Livestock are headers harvesting your grass and converting it into meat. If your headers aren’t functioning well you’re missing out on yield potential. How do you set up your place for the best grazing system Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Grazing Strategy

With crops up it’s time to think about storage, my most expensive mistake was not having on farm on storage last year and here’s why<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

With crops up it’s time to think about storage, my most expensive mistake was not having on farm on storage last year and here’s why Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With crops up it’s time to think about storage, my most expensive mistake was not having on farm on storage last year and here’s why Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Harvest Storage and Planning

Ryegrass is often seen as a problem if your west of the great divide but can we use that as a feed source for sheep and cattle and should we be sowing it?<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Ryegrass is often seen as a problem if your west of the great divide but can we use that as a feed source for sheep and cattle and should we be sowing it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryegrass is often seen as a problem if your west of the great divide but can we use that as a feed source for sheep and cattle and should we be sowing it? Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Ryegrass, but not what you think this is about

With sowing underway there have been multiple reports of drift from all over the country. Most of this looks to be inversion drift so today we’ll look at inversion drift, what it is and how it can be avoided.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

With sowing underway there have been multiple reports of drift from all over the country. Most of this looks to be inversion drift so today we’ll look at inversion drift, what it is and how it can be avoided. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With sowing underway there have been multiple reports of drift from all over the country. Most of this looks to be inversion drift so today we’ll look at inversion drift, what it is and how it can be avoided. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Inversion Drift

Herbicide residuals can be very effective in long term weed control but they can also cause you problems so tune into today’s podcast to find out what you can do to check and manage your residuals<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Herbicide residuals can be very effective in long term weed control but they can also cause you problems so tune into today’s podcast to find out what you can do to check and manage your residuals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Herbicide residuals can be very effective in long term weed control but they can also cause you problems so tune into today’s podcast to find out what you can do to check and manage your residuals Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Residuals and Plantbacks

Pre Emergent Herbicides can be a valuable tool in a farms weed management system. Tune in today to discuss what they are and how they can be used in your system<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Pre Emergent Herbicides can be a valuable tool in a farms weed management system. Tune in today to discuss what they are and how they can be used in your system Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pre Emergent Herbicides can be a valuable tool in a farms weed management system. Tune in today to discuss what they are and how they can be used in your system Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Pre Emergent Herbicides.

Legumes won’t fix Nitrogen unless they are inoculated with rhizobia bacteria so it’s essential that this step is done right.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Legumes won’t fix Nitrogen unless they are inoculated with rhizobia bacteria so it’s essential that this step is done right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legumes won’t fix Nitrogen unless they are inoculated with rhizobia bacteria so it’s essential that this step is done right. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: Why You Need to Inoculate your Legumes

Bit of an apology as to why I haven’t been posting any content anywhere<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Bit of an apology as to why I haven’t been posting any content anywhere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bit of an apology as to why I haven’t been posting any content anywhere Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Why I Haven’t Been Posting

Phosphorus is one of the key macro nutrients a plant requires. Listen to today’s tec talk to find out why it’s important and how to manage it.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Phosphorus is one of the key macro nutrients a plant requires. Listen to today’s tec talk to find out why it’s important and how to manage it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phosphorus is one of the key macro nutrients a plant requires. Listen to today’s tec talk to find out why it’s important and how to manage it. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Wednesday Tec Talk: The Importance of Phosphorus

A look at agriculture and farming in Australia and around the world. Covering a range of topics including soil health, ag tech, farm innovation, weed management, herbicide usage, livestock management, profitability and sustainability.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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A look at agriculture and farming in Australia and around the world. Covering a range of topics including soil health, ag tech, farm innovation, weed management, herbicide usage, livestock management, profitability and sustainability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A look at agriculture and farming in Australia and around the world. Covering a range of topics including soil health, ag tech, farm innovation, weed management, herbicide usage, livestock management, profitability and sustainability. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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