Growth, yield, and quality of pulse crops and succeeding spring wheat in the rotation

Pulse crops are becoming more popular to replace summer fallow in the conventional crop–fallow systems for increased crop yields, but limited information exists on the performance of pulse crops and succeeding crop yields and N dynamics in the US northern Great Plains. The objective of the study was to determine plant density, straw and grain yields, grain protein concentration, N uptake, harvest index (HI), N harvest index (NHI), N‐use efficiency (NUE), and N removal index (NRI) of three pulse crops (chickpea [ Cicer arietinum L.], lentil [ Lens culinaris Medik], and pea [ Pisum sativum L.]) and one control (spring wheat) as well as succeeding spring wheat in the rotation from 2021 to 2024. Plant density was 70%–203% greater for lentil than chickpea and pea but was 58% lower than spring wheat. Straw and grain yields and N uptake were 10%–68% greater for pea than chickpea and lentil, but yields were 25%–63% lower for pea than spring wheat. Grain protein concentration was 14%–20% greater for pea and lentil than chickpea and 27%–51% greater for pulse crops than spring wheat. The HI and NHI were 5%–25% greater for chickpea and lentil than pea and spring wheat. Spring wheat straw and grain yields, NUE, and NRI following pulse crops were 11%–21% greater than following continuous spring wheat. Because of greater grain yield and protein concentration, pea is recommended as the most effective pulse crop to replace summer fallow and increase crop yields and quality in crop–fallow systems in the northern Great Plains.