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Advice on Publications Available.Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Monech.) is a summer growing crop with reputedly, one of the shortest periods of time from sowing to maturity. It has been grown on the NSW Tablelands irregularly over the past 20 years, with variable results, depending upon seasonal conditions.
Buckwheat is an important human food in many Asian countries. Most of the Australian production is exported to Japan to produce soba or sabakiri (buckwheat noodles). However, the specific quality requirements differ in various parts of Japan so the different aspects of quality, such as grain size, moisture content and grain colour after dehulling, are vital for high returns.
A new RIRDC-supported research program based at Ballarat (coordinated by Chris Bluett, Victorian Department of Agriculture) has a range of locations for buckwheat research in both Victoria (Western District) and New South Wales (mainly in the cooler Tablelands/Slopes regions).
The main areas for investigation include cultivar adaptation, improvement of agronomic performance through a better understanding of the time of sowing/water use interactions, improvement in nutrient and weed management and acquisition of a better understanding of the grain quality requirements for particular markets.
Geoff Brown (Buckwheat Enterprises, Parkes) has been heavily involved in developing markets, particularly in Japan, and has imported a range of the better Japanese cultivars which are currently being screened in a number of regions.
Experimental work around Armidale during the past two years has examined cultivar performance, grain yields under commercial conditions as influenced by soil type and water availability, and the effects of time of sowing on growth and yield. In 1994-95 on a heavy basaltic clay the cultivars Mancan Taiyo Bussan, Asahikawi Ichigo and Kitawase gave the highest yields. It will be important in further work to more extensively assess these cultivars for grain yield and for their suitability for particular end-uses.
Commercial grain yields have been up to 2.5 tonnes/ha but were seriously reduced in 1994-95 owing to dry conditions. Prices vary markedly, depending on the cultivar, but in 1995-96 the price for cv. Kitawase is expected to be in the region of AUS$450 per tonne.
In 1994-95 Dale Clark (Fourth Year Rural Science student) commenced a study to examine the interaction of time of sowing and crop water use. This is a particularly important aspect of buckwheat production on the Tablelands where seasonal summer rainfall patterns are extremely variable. Initial data suggest that earlier sowing than has been used in the past (mid December) may give better early growth, greater flowering/seed set and higher grain yields. Such results are likely to be cultivar-dependent and further work is planned.
The RIRDC-supported program also aims to optimise agronomic aspects of buckwheat production by experimental work on sowing rates and fertiliser studies, including lime. The research organisations involved are Agriculture Victoria, NSW Agriculture and The University of New England, Armidale.
A marketing committee for buckwheat has also recently been formed at Ballarat and Chris Bluett and Terri Hannan also publish the Buckwheat Newsletter which provides information on all aspects of buckwheat production and utilisation.
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF