NSW scientists are contributing to a national research effort aimed at improving chickpea inoculant strains, with potential downstream benefits for agricultural inputs manufacturing and more efficient fertiliser use in cropping systems, according to the NSW Government through the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
The work, led in NSW by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) scientists, forms part of a national program funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Researchers are seeking to identify elite chickpea rhizobia strains that improve nitrogen fixation, with DPIRD’s Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute team also focused on characterising strains for traits relevant to inoculant quality assurance and manufacturing requirements.
Chickpeas rely on rhizobia bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form, reducing reliance on synthetic fertiliser and supporting soil fertility for subsequent crops. Because chickpea-specific rhizobia are not naturally present in Australian soils, inoculants are required, particularly in regions without a cropping history.
The current commercial strain has not been updated since the 1970s, prompting renewed research interest under the national collaboration involving South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), The University of Adelaide, Murdoch University and state agriculture departments.
Field trials led by DPIRD’s Tamworth Agricultural Institute will test promising strains across northern New South Wales sites including Tamworth, Breeza and Narrabri, alongside assessments of agronomic practices such as sowing time, herbicide interactions and inoculation methods.
The initiative also comes as NSW chickpea production reached a record $1.1 billion in gross value last financial year, representing the majority of the state’s pulse export value.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said the program could deliver long-term benefits for growers and cropping systems.
“This exciting research to find elite strains of chickpea rhizobia, which has not been attempted for more than four decades, will greatly benefit chickpea growers throughout New South Wales,” she said.
“NSW DPIRD’s contribution to identify new strains will help improve the sustainability of this crop, which many of our farmers tap into for its economic value and for its ability to fix nitrogen into the soil for subsequent crops in their rotations.”
She added that new strains “will also potentially allow our farmers to grow chickpea in areas where they could not before” and could help reduce reliance on inorganic fertilisers amid global supply pressures.
