Superphosphate requirements of clover-ley farming. I. The effects of topdressing on productivity in the ley phase

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Ayres ◽  
JD McFarlane ◽  
AR Gilmour ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
General Increase ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Soil Phosphate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Initial Soil ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
High Phosphate

Experiments were undertaken on four farms in southern New South Wales to assess the requirements for superphosphate of clover-ley farming soils. The sites were selected to provide contrasts in initial soil phosphate status (medium v. high) in both low and high average annual rainfall conditions. At each site a sheep-grazing experiment with factorial arrangement of three annual topdressing rates (nil, 125, and 250 kg superphosphate ha-1) and two sheep stocking rates (district average, twice district average) was imposed for the duration of a normal ley phase (4 years). The response to topdressing depended on the initial soil phosphate status and was modified by seasonal rainfall conditions. At the high phosphate sites topdressing had little effect on pasture production, but at the medium phosphate sites topdressing increased pasture availability, and caused rapid and profound changes in botanical conlposition; topdressing induced grass dominance while omission of topdressing led to clover dominance. The changes in botanical composition had important effects on forage quality. With normal seasonal conditions there was no overall response to topdressing in sheep performance, but in poor years the pasture changes conferred by topdressing were reflected in a general increase in the level of sheep productivity.

An economic analysis of a 10 year rate of stocking trial with fine-wool

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (92) ◽  
pp. 370 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM George ◽  
RA Pearse
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Labour Costs ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Wool Yield ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Price Relationships ◽  
Clover Pasture

Merino ewes were grazed for 10 years at stocking rates of 8, 12 and 16 ha-1, lambing in winter, spring or summer on a phalaris/white clover pasture on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Wool production, wool yield and count, and lambing and weaning rates were established for the wide range of climatic conditions experienced. A spring lambing is indicated under the within-year price relationships experienced. Under a wide range of wool and lamb prices the optimum stocking rate varied from 12 to 16 ewes ha-1 depending on labour costs.

Superphosphate requirements of clover-ley farming. II.* The residual effects of topdressing

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Ayres ◽  
JD McFarlane ◽  
GJ Osborne ◽  
EJ Corbin
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Grain Composition ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Nitrogen Rates ◽  
Available Phosphate

The residual effects of topdressing the grazed clover-ley were evaluated at four sites in southern New South Wales. The significance (for the initial crop) of changes in soil fertility induced by topdressing were studied in crop experiments (five superphosphate drill rates x three nitrogen rates) immediately following the ley phase. Topdressing influenced the level of available phosphate at all sites: heavy applications induced a large increase in available phosphate, light applications induced a moderate increase, and omission of topdressing led to a slight decline. The rate of soil nitrogen accretion was affected by topdressing only at sites that were initially of medium soil phosphate status. Topdressing exerted residual effects on crop growth, grain yield, and grain composition; crops following topdressed leys showed little response to superphosphate drilled with the crop at sowing. By contrast, crops following untopdressed leys showed a consistent but low requirement for superphosphate; grain production was maximized at low application rates (< 100 kg superphosphate ha-1) and the (economic) optimal rate was usually in the range 30-60 kg superphosphate ha-1. For the initial crop, low drill application rates were apparently equivalent to large amounts of superphosphate applied by topdressing the ley. ___________________ *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 28: 269 (1977).

Performance of breeding ewes on lucerne-subterranean clover pastures

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Hall ◽  
EC Wolfe ◽  
BR Cullis
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Lamb Growth

Pasture production, ewe and lamb growth, ewe wool production and diet quality were studied on lucerne-subterranean clover pastures at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Lucerne was sown at rates of 0.75 to 3.0 kg/ha, and the pastures were rotationally grazed with Border Leicester x Merino ewes at 9.6 or 12.7 sheep/ha, the ewes lambing in August- September. Lucerne density declined by 45% over the 3 years on all treatments. The clover cultivar sown, Woogenellup, had low persistence, particularly at 12.7 sheep/ha. The density of lucerne had little effect on annual wool and lamb production, although the ewes grew faster on the denser lucerne in summer and the sparser lucerne in winter. At 12- 7 sheep/ha, there was an extra 19% total lamb weight by the end of November and an extra 22% of finer wool (1 �m) annually, but the fleeces had a higher proportion of wool tenderness. The major limitations of the lucerne-subterranean clover pastures to sheep production were the low quality of the diet in early summer, and low pasture production in late winter. In early summer the lucerne was rapidly consumed, leaving only moderate quality clover and grass residues, which limited lamb growth, while in winter pregnancy toxaemia occurred, fleeces were tender and wool growth was low, particularly during a drought in 1976.

Wheat for fodder and grain on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD FitzGerald ◽  
ML Curll ◽  
EW Heap
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Wheat Varieties ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Wales

Thirty varieties of wheat originating from Australia, UK, USA, Ukraine, and France were evaluated over 3 years as dual-purpose wheats for the high rainfall environment of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales (mean annual rainfall 851 mm). Mean grain yields (1.9-4.3 t/ha) compared favourably with record yields in the traditional Australian wheatbelt, but were much poorer than average yields of 6.5 t/ha reported for UK crops. A 6-week delay in sowing time halved grain yield in 1983; cutting in spring reduced yield by 40% in 1986. Grazing during winter did not significantly reduce yields. Results indicate that the development of wheat varieties adapted to the higher rainfall tablelands and suited to Australian marketing requirements might help to provide a useful alternative enterprise for tableland livestock producers.

The effects of grazing and season on the stability of Chloris Spp. (Windmill grasses) in natural pasture at Trangie, New South Wales.

1978 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Michalk ◽  
PK Herbert
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
Mean Diameter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Stocking Rates

A study of the density and basal diameter of Chloris acicularis Lindl. (syn. Enteropogon acicularis (LindlJLazar. - curly windmill grass) and C. truncata R. Br. (windmill grass) was made at two stocking rates over a period of eight years. The propor- tion of ground covered by these Chloris species varied widely with season, and to a lesser extent with grazing pressure. The density of both species increased in good seasons, while the mean diameter decreased because of the number of new seedlings. Although C. truncata seedlings were more numerous in good seasons, they did not survive as well as did C. acicularis seedlings during prolonged dry periods.

Palatability to sheep of the Eragrostis curvula complex. 3. A comparison of naturalised and selected taxa

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
WH Johnston
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Eragrostis Curvula ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Relative Palatability

The palatability of 20 accessions of E. curvula collected from naturalised populations in New South Wales was compared on 7 occasions with 2 selected accessions previously found to be highly palatable. The experiment was conducted at Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., between January 198 1 and July 1983. The relative palatability of most accessions was substantially similar from rating to rating, despite differences in the extent to which the trial was grazed. Palatability was related to the agronomic group to which the accessions belonged. For the naturalised taxa, Curvula was ranked equal to Tall Chloromelas. but both were more palatable than Short Chloromelas. The naturalised accessions were all less palatable than the selected accessions. It was concluded that the selected accessions were sufficiently palatable to be well utilised in pastures by stock grazing at commercial stocking rates.

Gastro-intestinal parasites in sheep in an arid environment

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Gray ◽  
JP Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Anthelmintic Treatment ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Nematode Parasites ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
South Wales

Internal parasitism and its effects on survival, wool growth and liveweight gain of weaner sheep were studied over 3 years from 1977 to 1979 at Fowlers Gap Research Station, Broken Hill, New South Wales. During this period, annual rainfall was 33, 152 and 141 % respectively, of the annual mean of 195 mm. Worm burdens and production of sheep given anthelmintic treatment at approximately monthly intervals were compared with those in untreated sheep. Total worm counts in untreated sheep were low, ranging from 1 5 to 3750. Nematodirus spp. were the most common nematode parasites recovered. lnfections with Trichostrongylus spp, were recorded in 2 of the 3 years; T. rugatus was the only species represented when species identification was made in 1979. Infections of Haemonchus contortus were only detected in the last year. Tapeworms (Moniezia spp.) were occasionally recovered. Anthelmintic treatment reduced worm burdens to a very low level but had no significant effect on survival rate, liveweight gain, or wool production. We concluded that in the arid areas of western New South Wales, worm infection would not limit production or cause mortality in young sheep, except in unusually wet years.

The influence of grazing by cattle and sheep on the population dynamics of Bladder Saltbush (Atriplex Vesicaria) and white top (Danthonia caespitosa).

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 208 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Graetz
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Plant Population ◽  
Rainfall Pattern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
A Site ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Cattle And Sheep

Plant population data for the pass white-top (Danthonia caespitosa) and for bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) were collected for four years from a pasture continuously grazed by either cattle or sheep (at equivalent stocking rates) at a site near Booligal, New South Wales. During the four years of the experiment the cattle and sheep had different Impacts on the grass and scrub components of the pasture Sheep tended to deplete the numbers of pass plants far more than did cattle, whereas saltbush shrub numbers here little affected by either type of stock. The rainfall pattern experienced throughout the experiment had a far greater influence on the survival of both grass and shrub than did grazing.

Seasonal variation in the value of subsoil water to wheat: simulation studies in southern New South Wales

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Lilley ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Subsoil Water ◽  
Mean Annual Rainfall ◽  
South Wales

Water stored deep in the soil profile is valuable to crop yield but its availability and conversion to grain vary with preceding management and seasonal rainfall distribution. We investigated the value of subsoil water to wheat on the Red Kandosol soils in southern New South Wales, Australia, using the APSIM Wheat model, carefully validated for the study area. Simulation treatments over 106 years of historic climate data involved a factorial combination of (1) a preceding crop of either lucerne (Dry treatment) or a low-yielding wheat crop (Wet treatment) and (2) restriction of wheat root depth to either 1.2 or 1.8 m. Root access to the subsoil (1.2–1.8 m) increased wheat yield by an average of 0.6 and 0.3 t/ha for the Wet and Dry treatments, respectively, at Cootamundra (mean annual rainfall 624 mm) and by 0.5 and 0.1 t/ha at Ardlethan (mean annual rainfall 484 mm). The differences were principally related to the frequency with which the subsoil failed to wet up, which occurred in 8% and 39% of years at Cootamundra in Wet and Dry treatments, respectively, but in 21% and 79% of years at Ardlethan. In seasons where water from the subsoil was used, the mean value of the water for grain yield, expressed as marginal water-use efficiency (MWUE), was 30–36 kg/ha.mm at both sites. High MWUE (>60 kg/ha.mm) generally occurred in seasons of above-average rainfall when subsoil water facilitated extra post-anthesis water extraction, including that from upper soil layers, to realise the high yield potential. Low MWUE (<10 kg/ha.mm) occurred when re-translocation of pre-anthesis assimilate to grain in the 1.2 m treatment compensated for reduced subsoil water extraction and no yield difference between 1.2 and 1.8 m treatments was observed. Counter-intuitively, the results suggest that subsoil water will be of more value in higher rainfall environments due to its more frequent occurrence, and in above-average seasons due to more efficient conversion to grain.

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