The effect of phosphorus and sulphur fertilization on the growth and distribution of dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur in Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Robinson ◽  
RK Jones
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Animal Nutrition ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Large Yield ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

The effects of phosphorus and sulphur applications on the growth of Townsville slylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and the redistribution of dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur in various parts of the plant were examined in a glasshouse experiment. Large yield responses lo phosphorus and sulphur, and a highly significant interaction were obtained. Phosphorus and sulphur deficiency caused a 3-week delay in flowering. The rapid decline in nutrient concentrations both before and after flowering is discussed in relation to the use of critical values. Townsville stylo shows a very marked ability to translocate nutrients to the seed. Adequately fertilized plants contained only 0.02% phosphorus and 0.10% sulphur in the mature leaf, while the seeds contained 0.36% phosphorus and 0.36% sulphur. This is discussed in relation to animal nutrition during the dry season.

The effects of superphosphate on the growth and development of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) in pure ungrazed swards at Katherine, NT

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 716 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Development ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Yield Responses

The effects of four levels of superphosphate (0, 112, 224, and 448 lb an acre) on the growth and development of ungrazed Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) in pure swards were examined on virgin Tippera clay loam at Katherine, N.T. Yields and distribution of dry matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, leaf area, and growth rate, were measured every two weeks. Leaf relative water content and soil water extraction were measured at the end of the wet season. Yield responses to superphosphate were curvilinear and fitted regressions of the form y = a nx + bx + c at all harvests. Superphosphate encouraged root exploitation of the soil volume, but phosphorus deficient swards were more resistant to drought. The maximum recovery of phosphorus was 20, 14, and 14 per cent respectively when 112, 224, and 448 lb an acre superphosphate was applied. Loss of 31 per cent dry matter, 34 per cent nitrogen, and 44 per cent phosphorus in the eight weeks following maximum yield was concluded to be due to translocation to the root system. Even with 448 lb an acre superphosphate the phosphorus content of standing material was below the the critical percentage quoted in the literature as indicating phosphorus sufficiency.

Effect of time of cessation of wet season grazing on Townsville stylo-annual grass pasture at Katherine, N.T

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (64) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJT Norman ◽  
LJ Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Active Growth ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Townsville Stylo

A Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)-annual grass pasture at Katherine, N.T., was subjected to a series of treatments in 1969-70 and 1970-71 under which plots were grazed heavily from the beginning of the wet season for a period and then allowed to recover undefoliated for the remainder of the season. The dates at which heavy grazing ceased were spaced at 2-week intervals from November 24 to March 16. At the end of the wet season, total dry matter yield was linearly related to length of recovery period. Townsville stylo yield declined as recovery period was reduced from 18 to 8 weeks, but showed little response to a further reduction to 4 weeks. In contrast, annual grass yield showed little change as recovery period was reduced from 18 to 8 weeks, but fell with a further reduction to 4 weeks. As a result, the proportion of Townsville stylo in the pasture at the end of the season was high with long and short recovery periods but reached a minimum with an 8 - 10 week recovery period. Dry conditions prevailed in the first half of both seasons. The evidence suggests that young Townsville stylo is sensitive to heavy grazing when under water stress, and that early grazing for grass control should be imposed only during periods of active growth.

Effect of time of sowing on flowering and growth of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mannetje L t ◽  
KHLvan Bennekom
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Maturity Type ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Late Start ◽  
Spring Sowing

A midseason maturity type of Townsville stylo sown at monthly intervals throughout a year in a glasshouse in Brisbane (27�30' south) started flowering from 42 to 76 days after sowing between February and September, with dry matter yields at flowering ranging from 0.05 to 5.82 g/per plant. Sowings between October and January resulted in flowering after 98 to 157 days, with yields ranging from 26.41 to 54.75 g/per plant. Flowering was mainly determined by daylength, although low temperatures during winter delayed inflorescence elongation. Growth after onset of flowering was measured in plants sown in winter, spring and late summer. Plant weights increased after flowering in all sowings. In the spring sowing this consisted entirely of stem and inflorescence, but in the other sowings leaf was formed after onset of flowering as well. Winter and spring sowings gave the highest, late summer sowing the lowest final yields. The main agronomic implication is that sowing early in the growing season is necessary for obtaining a good first year's yield, but that seed production is little affected by sowing date, ensuring good regeneration even in years with a late start of the growing season.

Herbicides for the control of grass weeds in pastures of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 790
Author(s):  
IMW Wood
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Plant Population ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Townsville Stylo

The use of herbicides to control annual grasses in pastures of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) was studied at Katherine, N.T. The herbicides chlorthal, trifluralin, benefin, sindone B, and siduron all controlled the annual grasses Digitaria adscendens and Brachiaria ramosa. The outstanding herbicide was chlorthal, which at 6 lb a.i. an acre pre-emergence gave a Townsville stylo dry matter yield of 3250 lb an acre compared with 1130 lb an acre for the unweeded control and 2440 lb an acre for the handweeded control. At maturity there was no grass in the chlorthal plots and 1940 lb an acre in the unweeded control plots. The data suggest that, without defoliation during the growing period, total suppression of Townsville stylo can be expected when the grass population at establishment exceeds 37 per cent of the total plant population.

The utilization and excretion of sulphur in cattle fed on tropical roughages

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Small Decrease ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Total Sulphur ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Townsville Stylo

The effect of additions of sulphateh to the diet of cattle given tropical spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) and Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) was studied in three experiments. In one experiment there was a small increase in the digestibility of dry matter, but the intake of feed was not affected. The concentration of volatile fatty acids in ruminal liquor from cattle offered spear grass was increased by supplemental sulphate; there was a concurrent small decrease in the proportions of propionic and isovaleric acids. Excretion of faecal sulphur varied with the intakes of total sulphur, organic matter, and digestible organic matter, while urinary sulphur excretion varied with the sulphur and organic matter intakes. Excretion of organic sulphur and total sulphate in urine and faeces increased with sulphur intake. The ratio of nitrogen to sulphur in faeces declined when sulphate was given. The retention of nitrogen was correlated with sulphur retention. It was concluded that the intake and digestion of the hays were not limited by the intake of sulphur.

Management options for increasing the productivity of tropical savanna pastures. IV. Population biology of introduced Stylosanthes spp

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Mott ◽  
WH Winter ◽  
RW McLean
Keyword(s):  
Population Biology ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

In a large-scale grazing experiment in the Monsoon Tallgrass savannas of the Northern Territory, Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis), Caribbean stylo (S. hamata) and perennial stylo (S. scabra + S. viscosa) were sown into native pasture and grazed at three stocking rates, under two fertilizer rates and with trees killed and unkilled. These treatments, together with the occurrence of anthracnose, led to the rapid decline in both yield and numbers of plants in those pastures sown to Townsville stylo. In contrast, yields of Caribbean stylo and Perennial stylo stabilized after three years in both fertilized and unfertilized swards. While total legume yield of these latter two treatments was similar, the dominant contribution in Caribbean stylo was made by annual plants, while in Perennial stylo swards individuals more than 18 months old contributed 80% of the yield.There were marked differences between all species in their population biology. Townsville stylo declined in numbers with death of individuals prior to seed set and the rapid depletion of the soil seed pool which had little long-lived seed. In contrast, in swards of Caribbean stylo a large amount of hard seed rapidly built up in the soil seed pool and ensured continuity of productivity even if seed was not set in some years. In the perennial stylos, seed softened quickly, and the soil seed pool remained small and short-lived. In these latter Stylosanthes spp., long-term stability depended on the survival of perennating plants rather than seed.Pasture management must take into account these different patterns of population dynamics. In particular, while fire is a potentially useful tool in renovating Caribbean stylo swards with their large soil seed pool, it can be extremely detrimental to perennial stylo swards where individuals are susceptible to burning and there is little soil seed available to re-establish the sward.

Wet season grazing of Townsville stylo pasture at Katherine, N.T

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 710 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJT Norman ◽  
LJ Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Nitrogen Yield ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Stocking Rates

At Katherine, N.T., stocking rates of 1.33, 1.00, and 0.67 Shorthorn steers an acre for a period of 18 weeks in the wet season beginning January were imposed on established pastures sown to Townsville sty10 (Stylosanthes humilis) alone but subsequently invaded to varying degrees by annual grasses. The experiment was repeated over three years. There were no significant differences in mean liveweight gain per head over three years ; hence liveweight gain per acre at the heaviest stocking rate was approximately twice that at the lightest rate. The mean dry matter yield of grass increased significantly with decreasing stocking rate, but there were no significant differences between stocking rates in Townsville stylo dry matter yield, nitrogen yield, or phosphorus yield. Correlation coefficients were calculated using data from individual paddocks and years. There was a highly significant positive correlation between liveweight gain per head and pasture nitrogen yield, and between liveweight gain per head and pasture phosphorus yield.

Nutritional value of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and of spear grass (Heteropogon contortus)-dominant pastures fed to sheep. 1. The effect of plant maturity

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Playne ◽  
KP Haydock
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Nitrogen Intake ◽  
Plant Maturity ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Maintenance Requirements ◽  
A Site

The voluntary dry matter intake, digestibility and chemical composition of Townsville stylo and of black spear grass cut at different times of the year from a site near Townsville, Queensland, have been examined using penned sheep. Nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus intakes and retention in the sheep were measured. The concentrations of N, P, S, Na, and Ca in most cuts of spear grass and P and Na in Townsville stylo were less than the published requirements of animals. With spear grass, digestible dry matter intake declined rapidly from January to April and more slowly from April to October and by mid-March fell below the estimated energy requirements for maintenance of sheep. There was little change in digestible dry matter intake of Townsville stylo between February and May and the level was well above maintenance requirements. Dry matter intake and dry matter digestibility were linearly related but only about 50 per cent of variations in intake were caused by variations in digestibility. Nitrogen balance was linearly related to nitrogen intake, and sulphur balance was linearly related to sulphur intake. Phosphorus intakes were usually less than 1 g P day-l and animals were usually in negative P retention.

Rapid changes in simple mixtures of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) lines differing in flowering time and growth habit

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (84) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Cameron ◽  
RL McCown
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Pod Yield ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Frequency Changes

The ecological adaptation of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) lines was studied by following changes in the composition of mixtures of the lines. At Weipa, a high rainfall site in north Queensland, the composition of a mixture of four maturity types changed rapidly in favour of the later flowering lines, and the earliest line was almost eliminated by the end of the second year. In binary mixtures at 'Lansdown' near Townsville, defoliation every six weeks favoured erect lines but the proportion of prostrate lines was almost doubled at the three week cutting frequency. Changes in mixture composition could not be related to the dry matter yield or pod yield of the monocultures at either site. The capacity of late flowering lines to increase rapidly in populations growing in high rainfall areas, as demonstrated at the Weipa site, could pose problems for the commercial seed production of earlier flowering lines in such areas.

Simulating change in cattle liveweight during the transition period in a dry monsoonal climate

1976 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 297 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Ive
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

The change in liveweight of tropical crossbred steers grazing Townsville stylo or mixed Townsville stylo–sabi grass pastures was recorded for 3 years during the annual transition period between the dry and wet seasons, a period commonly associated with a loss of liveweight. The experiment was conducted at Katherine, Northern Territory (14.3°S., 132.3°E.). A non-linear regression model was developed relating weekly changes in liveweight to the quantity of living fodder on offer at the commencement of the week and to the rainfall for the week. The model was used to estimate the mean start and duration of the period during which the rate of gain in liveweight is below the dry season rate, on the basis of local meteorological data covering 25 years. Predictions from the model were compatible with previous findings. The root mean square error of the model increased when the yield of either nitrogen, phosphorus or total digestible nutrient was substituted for the yield of living dry matter. Therefore the difference in yield of living dry matter, rather than its botanical composition, accounted for the different rates of gain in liveweight recorded on the two pasture treatments. Consequently the inclusion of the perennial sabi grass allowed higher gains in liveweight (or less loss) because of the higher growth rate (and therefore greater living dry matter yield) of the perennial grass compared with the annual Townsville stylo. Furthermore it is suggested that predictions from the model could apply to other pasture species provided that the quality of juvenile growth during the transition period is relatively constant.

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