Establishment, survival, and herbage production of novel, summer-active perennial pasture legumes in the low-rainfall cropping zone of Western Australia as affected by plant density and cutting frequency

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalith D. B. Suriyagoda ◽  
Daniel Real ◽  
Michael Renton ◽  
Hans Lambers ◽  
Megan H. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Herbaceous perennial legumes that can provide forage in the summer–autumn dry period are urgently required in Mediterranean climates to complement annual pastures and the perennial legume lucerne (Medicago sativa). This study evaluated the establishment, survival, and herbage production of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) and Cullen spp. native to Australia. Two experiments were replicated at Buntine (warmer site) and Newdegate (cooler site) in the low-rainfall cropping zone (<350 mm average annual rainfall) of Western Australia from June 2008 to September 2010. In the first experiment, established by transplanting seedlings, survival and herbage production of two accessions each of B. bituminosa and C. australasicum were studied under densities of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 plants/m2 with 0, 1, 2, or 3 cuts in summer–autumn in addition to a winter–spring cut. In the second experiment, established from seed, emergence and survival of several accessions of B. bituminosa, C. australasicum, and M. sativa were studied, along with C. pallidum and C. cinereum. In the first experiment, B. bituminosa survived better than C. australasicum (70–80% v. 18–45%), especially at Buntine, but there was little impact of density or cutting frequency on survival. Plant death was highest during summer. Shoot dry weight (DW) accumulation varied greatly with site, year, and plant density. When rainfall was close to average, shoot DW was greater at Newdegate (B. bituminosa ≤7.4 t/ha, C. australasicum ≤4.5 t/ha) than at Buntine (≤2.3 t/ha), and both species produced much of their shoot DW in summer–autumn (e.g. 6 t/ha for B. bituminosa and 3 t/ha for C. australasicum at Newdegate). An early-summer cut reduced the DW that could be harvested later in summer–autumn. In the second experiment, emergence of B. bituminosa was either similar to, or higher than, emergence of the other species, being 43% at Buntine and 44% at Newdegate. Survival of B. bituminosa, compared with M. sativa, was similar at Buntine (13%) and slightly lower at Newdegate (14%). Emergence and survival of Cullen spp. varied among species and accessions, with survival of the best performing accession of C. australasicum (SA4966) similar to that of B. bituminosa and M. sativa at both sites. We conclude that B. bituminosa shows promise as a perennial summer forage for low-rainfall zones, with a density of 8–16 plants/m2 and cutting frequency of 3 cuts/year (i.e. cut twice in summer–autumn), while C. australasicum and C. pallidum warrant further study.

Nodulation and growth of pasture legumes with naturalised soil rhizobia. 3. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Ballard ◽  
B. R. Shepherd ◽  
N. Charman
Keyword(s):  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Perennial Legume

An assessment was made of the ability of 2 genetically diverse cultivars of lucerne (Trifecta and Sceptre) to nodulate and form effective symbioses with the strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti naturalised in 50 soils. Soils were collected from 42 dryland lucerne pastures and 8 irrigated multiple-use lucerne stands in the south-east of South Australia. The density of lucerne in the paddock, age of the lucerne stand and rhizobial inoculation practice were recorded at sampling. The lucerne swards were on average 5.6 years old (range 1–28) and had a mean plant density of 25 plants/m2 (range 3–66). The lucerne in 39 of the paddocks had been inoculated with rhizobia at sowing.The most probable number of rhizobia (S. meliloti) able to nodulate lucerne was determined for each soil. The most probable number of lucerne rhizobia exceeded 1.0 × 103/g in 23 of the soils. The most probable number of rhizobia in the soil was significantly correlated (r = 0.64) with soil pH. All 13 soils that contained less than 1.0�×�102�rhizobia/g had a pH of less than 6.3.The effectiveness at nitrogen fixation of each population of soil rhizobia was determined in a glasshouse experiment. There was no significant interaction between lucerne cultivar and soil inoculant. Generally, the soil rhizobia were highly effective, with 35 of the 50 soil inoculants producing more than 70% of the shoot dry weight associated with an effective inoculant strain (WSM826). Decreased lucerne shoot dry weights resulting from the remaining soil inoculants were associated with a lower most probable number of rhizobia in the soil, rather than poor symbiotic effectiveness of those rhizobia. This study highlighted the ability of both Trifecta and Sceptre lucernes to form an effective symbiosis with the rhizobia that have naturalised in the soils across a 25 000 km2 region of South Australia. It also showed that soil acidity is detrimental to rhizobial survival even in a perennial legume system and suggests that rhizobia that persist and form nodules in acidic soils should be a focus in the selection of new inoculant strains for lucerne.

scholarly journals Simulated mesotrione drift followed by glyphosate, imazethapyr, bentazon or glyphosate plus chlorimuron in soybean

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-272
Author(s):  
L. R. Brown ◽  
D. E. Robinson ◽  
K. Chandler ◽  
C. J. Swanton ◽  
R. E. Nurse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glycine Max ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Glycine Max L ◽  
Herbicide Drift

There have been anecdotal accounts of increased crop sensitivity due to herbicide drift followed by an in-crop herbicide. An experiment was conducted from 2005 to 2007 at Elora, Ridgetown, and Woodstock, Ontario, to determine the effects of simulated mesotrione drift followed by in-crop applications of glyphosate, imazethapyr, bentazon and glyphosate plus chlorimuron on glyphosate-resistant soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] visual injury, plant height, plant density, shoot dry weight, and seed yield. As the rate of simulated mesotrione drift increased, there was an increase in soybean injury and a decrease in shoot dry weight, height, and yield. Simulated mesotrione drift followed by bentazon resulted in synergistic responses in injury shortly after application in some environments. This increase in injury was transient, with no synergistic responses in density, shoot dry weight, and yield. In contrast, antagonistic responses were observed when glyphosate, imazethapyr, or glyphosate plus chlorimuron were applied after simulated mesotrione drift in some environments. Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the interactions of drift followed by the application of an in-crop herbicide. Key words: Bentazon, chlorimuron, glyphosate, imazethapyr, mesotrione, synergism

Influence of rotation and time of germinating rains on the productivity and composition of annual pastures in Western Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Thomson ◽  
C. K. Revell ◽  
N. C. Turner ◽  
M. A. Ewing ◽  
I. F. Le Coultre
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
First Year ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Bromus Diandrus ◽  
Second Year

A long-term rotation experiment located in south-western Australia was used to measure the effect of rotation and time of germinating rains on the productivity and botanical composition of grazed annual pastures in 2 contrasting seasons in an environment with an average annual rainfall of 325 mm. The density of self-regenerating seedlings of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), and grasses (Lolium rigidum, Hordeum leporinum, Bromus diandrus) was greatly increased (approx. 3 times the density) when there was a second year of pasture after crop compared with the first year after crop. The lower plant density resulted in first-year pastures having only about 33% of the autumn biomass accumulation of second-year pastures. This difference in early pasture growth had no effect on total pasture production in 1992, but in 1993 total pasture production was 30% greater in second-year pastures compared with first-year pastures. Botanical composition varied between and within seasons with the percentage of subterranean clover increasing throughout the season and the percentage of capeweed decreasing throughout the season. Grasses comprised <20% of the biomass in all seasons and treatments. Production of subterranean clover seed in 1993 was higher in a 1 : 2 crop-pasture rotation than in a 1 : 1 crop-pasture rotation and direct drilling in the cropping phase increased seed set compared with conventional tillage in both 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 crop-pasture rotations. Capeweed seedlings emerged in large numbers after rainfall between February and May and subsequently showed a relative growth rate twice that of subterranean clover and the grasses, but exclusion of rainfall until June resulted in a significant reduction in the emergence of capeweed seedlings. Additionally, capeweed had a lower rate of seedling survival compared with other pasture species, and this is contrary to observations by other researchers that capeweed is highly resistant to moisture stress during early growth.

scholarly journals Peanut Yield Potential as Influenced by Cropping System and Plant Density

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-133
Author(s):  
P. E. Igbokwe ◽  
N. V. K. Nkongolo
Keyword(s):  
Seed Weight ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Plant Spacing ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Vetiveria Zizanioides ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Pod Number

Abstract This study was conducted on a Memphis silt loam at Alcorn State University in 1992 and 1993 and investigated row-intercropping as a low-input alternative to the conventional cropping system for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production in southwestern Mississippi. Extractable P and exchangeable cations were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher for vetiver-peanut row-intercropping in 1992. Extractable S and P were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher for vetiver-peanut row-intercropping and conventional peanut monocropping, respectively, in 1993. Plant height, shoot dry weight, the number of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) per row, insect lesions per leaflet, and rodent diggings per row were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher for conventional peanut monocropping than when peanut was intercropped with vetiver grass [Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash]. Peanut pod number, pod weight, seed number, and seed weight also were higher for conventional peanut monocropping. The seed mineral composition generally was not affected by cropping system and plant spacing. Peanut yield was higher for 15.2 cm within-row plant spacing compared to 10.2- and 20.3-cm spacings investigated in this study. Interaction between cropping system and plant spacing was significant for pod number, pod weight, seed number, seed weight, and seed Ca and Fe compositions in 1992, but only significant for seed number, seed weight, and seed Fe and Zn compositions in 1993.

Factors affecting growth and reproduction of Noogoora burr (Xanthium occidentale Bertol.)

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Martin ◽  
JA Carnahan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
High Plant Density ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Net Assimilation ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Plant density and availability of light and water significantly affected growth and reproduction of Noogoora burr plants grown in a glasshouse. Burr yield was reduced most by low levels of available water. Low light intensity, low water availability and high plant density reduced net assimilation rates and, in combination, caused the greatest reduction in burr production. Under field conditions the ratio of burr dry weight to total shoot dry weight decreased with increasing plant density. In terms of production per unit area, dry weight of main stems and main stem leaves increased with increasing plant density at the expense of burr dry weight. We conclude that the success of Noogoora burr as a fleece contaminant could be attributed, in part, to: the insensitivity of burr production to variation in soil fertility and length of growing season; the ability to regulate plant density under conditions of limiting light or water; and the ability to regulate plant components so that the efficiency of burr production increases with a decrease in plant density.

Breeding and farming system opportunities for pasture legumes facing increasing climate variability in the south-west of Western Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. K. Revell ◽  
M. A. Ewing ◽  
B. J. Nutt
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
The South ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
South West ◽  
Annual Medics ◽  
Phosphorus And Potassium

The south-west of Western Australia has experienced a declining trend in annual rainfall and gradual warming over the last 30 years. The distribution of rainfall has also changed, with lower autumn rainfall, patchy breaks to the season, and shorter springs. This has important implications for the productivity of legume pastures in the region, which is dominated by annual species, particularly subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), annual medics (Medicago spp.), serradella (Ornithopus spp.), and biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.). For annual pasture legumes, appropriate patterns of seed softening and germination behaviour, efficiency of phosphorus and potassium uptake, responses to elevated levels of atmospheric CO2, and drought resistance of seedlings and mature plants will assume increasing importance. While these traits can be targeted in pasture breeding programs, it will also be important to exploit farming system opportunities to optimise the annual legume component of the feed base. These opportunities may take the form of incorporating strategic shrub reserves and grazing crops to allow for pasture deferment in autumn–winter. Perennial forages may become more important in this context, as discussed in terms of the development of the perennial legume tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata C.H. Stirton).

Effect of barley plant density on wild oat interference, shoot biomass and seed yield under zero tillage

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. O'Donovan ◽  
J. C. Newman ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
R. E. Blackshaw ◽  
D. W. McAndrew
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Barley Plant ◽  
Wild Oat ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Plant Densities

There has been little research aimed at developing regression models to describe the effects of barley and wild oat plant density on barley yield loss, or wild oat biomass and seed yield. Such models are an important component of integrated weed management systems, and can help determine when weed control with herbicides is economical. Field experiments were conducted over 4 yr at Vegreville, Alberta, to determine the interactive effects of wild oat and barley plant density on barley and wild oat variables in a zero tillage system. A nonlinear regression model in most cases provided good descriptions of barley yield loss, wild oat shoot dry weight, and wild oat seed yield as functions of wild oat and barley plant densities. The interactive effect of wild oat and barley plant density on percentage barley yield loss did not differ significantly (P = 0.05) among years. A pooled regression model describing barley yield loss accounted for 57% of the variation, and provides a means of estimating yield loss due to wild oat in barley grown under zero tillage. Barley yield loss increased as wild oat density increased but the magnitude of the yield loss diminished with increasing barley plant density. Wild oat economic threshold densities varied among years, and were strongly influenced by barley price and expected wild oat-free yield. Economic thresholds were greater at higher barley plant densities. Barley seed weight decreased with increasing barley plant density, and to a lesser extent with increasing wild oat density. The interactive effect of wild oat and barley plant density on wild oat seed yield varied significantly with year, and appeared to be influenced by climatic conditions. The cooler, wetter spring of 1996 favored wild oat seed production (by several orders of magnitude) compared with the relatively warmer and drier spring of 1995. Each year wild oat seed yield and shoot dry weight decreased as barley plant density increased. The results suggest that seeding barley at relatively high rates may reduce the need for wild oat control with herbicides in zero tillage systems. Key words: Zero tillage, wild oat interference, barley seeding rate, nonlinear regression

Ecological factors affecting distribution and abundance of Medicago minima

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana E. Fresnillo-Fedorenko ◽  
Philip S. Cocks ◽  
John W. Bowden
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Ecological Success ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Pasture Legume

A survey was conducted to study the distribution and abundance of Medicago minima in relation to soil factors and rainfall. The collection targeted two regions of Western Australia where this species is known to occur. The frequency and pod density of M. minima and other naturalised annual pasture legumes (Medicago spp. and Trifolium spp.) was recorded per site. In addition, soil samples were taken and analysed for physical and chemical characteristics. Soils where M. minima was present were finer textured, higher in pH, nitrate and potassium, and lower in available phosphorus than soils where it was absent. These soils were commonly found in low rainfall areas. The highest frequency (55%) and density (4000 pods/m2) of M. minima were recorded in areas with 275 mm average annual rainfall. In a third of the collection sites M. minima was the only pasture legume present in the plant community. In the driest areas (260 mm annual rainfall) with the lowest content of available phosphorus (7.5 mg/kg) M. laciniata was associated with M. minima. In areas with 300–325 mm rainfall, M. minima was associated with M. truncatula, M. polymorpha and M. littoralis. The absence of M. minima in areas of Western Australia with >325 mm annual rainfall was related to its low tolerance to soil acidity. This paper examines the ecological success of M. minima with regard to its ability to use phosphorus in soils of high pH and lime content, and to set seed under water stress. It also discusses the distribution of M. minima in Western Australia in relation to its distribution in the Mediterranean Basin and other areas that the species is known to have colonised.

scholarly journals Production and persistence of temperate perennial grasses and legumes at five saline sites in southern Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 536 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. H. Nichols ◽  
M. E. Rogers ◽  
A. D. Craig ◽  
T. O. Albertsen ◽  
S. M. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Genotypic Differences ◽  
Tall Wheatgrass ◽  
Legume Plant ◽  
Second Year ◽  
A Site ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Herbage production and persistence of 24 perennial legumes from 20 species and 19 perennial grasses from 10 species were measured at five sites across southern Australia that differed in annual rainfall and extent of salinity and waterlogging. At Cranbrook, Western Australia, a site with occasional waterlogging and a summer salinity [estimated by electrical conductivity (ECe)] of 6.9 dS/m in the surface 10 cm of soil, strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.) and Lotus uligonosis Schkuhr produced 2.7 t/ha in the second year and had the highest legume plant frequencies in year 3, while herbage production of L. tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd. and L. corniculatus L. was not significantly lower. No grasses produced more than 0.3 t/ha in the second year, but tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Z.-W. Liu & R.-C. Wang) was the most persistent. At Girgarre, Victoria, another site with occasional waterlogging and a summer ECe of 8.0 dS/m, phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) produced 8.5 t/ha in the second year, while production of tall wheatgrass and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was not significantly lower. Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) was the only legume that produced more than 1 t/ha. Phalaris, tall wheatgrass and sulla had the highest densities in the third year. At Duranillin (Western Australia) and Keith (South Australia), which both experienced extensive winter waterlogging and had summer ECe >30 dS/m, puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata Bor) and tall wheatgrass were the only grass or legume species that persisted beyond the first summer. Puccinellia was the only species to produce useful quantities of herbage (1.0 t/ha) in year 3 at Duranillin. No perennial grasses or legumes produced more than 0.35 t/ha in either year 2 or year 3 at Tammin, Western Australia, the lowest rainfall site (330 mm mean annual rainfall) with summer ECe of 10.9 dS/m. Genotypic differences within sites were indicated for several species, suggesting opportunities to develop cultivars better adapted to saline soils

Growth and Development of False Cleavers (Galium spurium L.)

Weed Science ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najib Malik ◽  
William H. Vanden Born
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Early Fall ◽  
Chamber Studies ◽  
Growth Chamber Studies ◽  
Galium Spurium ◽  
Number Of Branches

Seeds of false cleavers (Galium spurium L.) grown in mid-May germinated 12 to 14 days after planting in central Alberta. The plants flowered from early July to late August and developed fruits from mid-July to early September. Plants from the late-June sowing date developed fruits until early October unless early fall frost killed the plants. Plants from seeds sown after mid-July remained in a vegetative state until late September and did not flower. Seedlings that emerged in August and September survived a mild prairie winter and resumed growth the following spring. Under greenhouse conditions, plant height ranged from 77 to 113 cm and the number of branches at first node ranged from 6 to 14, as plant density decreased from 16 to 1 plant/pot. Shoot dry weight decreased by 50% as plant population doubled, 46 days after emergence. The number of seeds produced/plant decreased from 3500 to 175 as plant density increased from 1 to 16 plants/pot. In growth chamber studies, plant growth was greatest at 20 compared to 16 or 24C.

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