Production functions for chickpea, field pea, and lentil in the central Great Plains

A short-season legumne grown in rotation with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is needed to diversify and enhance dryland crop rotations in the central Great Plains. This study was conducted to determine the potential of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) as such rotational legumes based on yield responses to water and soil water extraction patterns. The legumes were planted under a line-source gradient irrigation system to provide a range of available water conditions. Soil water content, crop water use, and seed yield were measured to determine relationships between water use and yield. Distributions of estimated yields were produced using these relationships and the local historical rainfall record. Chickpea exhibited the greatest rate of increase in yield with increases in water use (10.6 kg ha(-1) mm(-1)), followed by field pea (8.0 kg ha(-1) mm(-1)) and lentil (3.3 kg ha(-1) mm(-1)). Yields estimated from the historical rainfall record ranged from 951 to 3782 kg ha(-1) (mean of 2092 kg ha(-1)) for chickpea, 523 to 2718 kg ha(-1) (mean of 1406 kg ha(-1)) for field pea, and 286 to 1247 kg ha(-1) (mean of 654 kg ha(-1)) for lentil. All three legumes have agronomic potential to be used as dryland crops ahead of winter wheat in the central Great Plains.