Nitrogen fertiliser use on rain-fed pasture in the Mt Lofty Ranges, SouthAustralia. 2. Responses of perennial grasses, Tama ryegrass, andsod-sown oats to nitrogen fertiliser and cutting frequency

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 579 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Elliott ◽  
R. J. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Fertiliser Application ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Two series of experiments were conducted in the Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia, to examine, in a grass–subterranean clover pasture, the contribution of the companion grass to herbage mass and the responsiveness to the application of nitrogen (N) fertiliser. The first study examined the responsiveness, to a single rate of N, of grass–clover pastures containing either Tama ryegrass, sod-sown oats or 1 of 4 perennial grasses, viz. Victorian perennial ryegrass, Demeter fescue, Currie cocksfoot or Australian phalaris. These were compared in 2 experiments, under 3��different cutting frequencies at 3 periods during the growing season. In the other study, consisting of 12�experiments, the response to increasing rate of N fertiliser application of sod-sown oats or the existing pasture were compared over a 3-month period following N fertiliser application in autumn.In autumn and winter, all pastures responded significantly to N fertiliser, whereas in spring, the proportion of clover in each pasture and its growth determined whether or not there was a response to N fertiliser. Clover composition of pastures declined with N application, but clover was not eliminated from swards by application of 210 kg N/ha a year. In both series of experiments, pastures that established well with a high density of sod-sown oats out-yielded all other pastures in autumn and winter, whether the swards were unfertilised or received regular N fertiliser applications. In late winter, pastures sod-sown with Tama ryegrass yielded as well as the pasture sod-sown with oats, and enhanced spring growth significantly compared with perennial ryegrass. However, spring production of Tama ryegrass was poorer than that of perennial ryegrass, and overall no increase in annual production occurred. Of the perennial grasses, the highest yielding when N fertiliser was applied were Currie cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass (yielding in autumn), phalaris (winter), and perennial ryegrass and Demeter fescue (spring). Increased cutting frequency depressed the herbage mass response to N fertiliser following the initial application, but increased herbage N concentration of all pastures and also increased the final clover composition of N-fertilised pasture of 4�pasture types.

Potential adaptation zones for temperate pasture species as constrained by climate: a knowledge-based logical modelling approach

1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1095 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hill
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Validation Data ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Potential Adaptation

Potential adaptation zones were modelled for major temperate pasture species using climate data and knowledge-based logical rules. A GIs database was constructed using a 0.025 degree digital elevation model and the Australian Climate Surfaces to create layers of monthly mean climate data for Australia. Soil pH maps for New South Wales, Victoria, and south-eastern South Australia were digitised and added to the database. Simple models using logical operators were constructed using estimates of temperature and aridity thresholds for the main temperate pasture species. The logical models were executed using primary and derived climate layers to create raster maps of potential adaptation zones for pasture species in eastern and south-western Australia. Areas of adaptation on freehold/leasehold land were expressed relative to a potential temperate pasture adaptation zone described by the lower (arid) limit of annual legume adaptation in temperate Australia and the northern limit of lucerne adaptation. Potential adaptation within this area ranged from 66% for lucerne down to <20% for perennial ryegrass in eastern Australia, and 93% for subterranean clover down to zero for perennial ryegrass in south-western Australia. Utility of the species adaptation zones could be enhanced using soil pH maps: a zone for serradella in NSW was refined by restricting adaptation to areas of climatic suitability with low soil pH. Maps for lucerne and Mount Barker subterranean clover showed good agreement with validation data for NSW. The zones may be readily adjusted by simple changes to parameter values in the algorithms. This knowledge-based approach has potential as an aid to targeting resources for plant improvement or to provide advice for more efficient utilisation of existing commercial pasture plants.

Yield responses to lime of phalaris, cocksfoot, and annual pastures in north-eastern Victoria

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Ridley ◽  
DR Coventry
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Mixed Grass ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Pasture Yield

Yield responses of 3 mixed grass-clover pastures [Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa (phalaris), Dactylis glomerata cv. Porto (cocksfoot), and annual grass based Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Trikkala (subterranean clover) pastures] were measured over 5 soil pH treatments at 2 sites in Victoria. One site (Beechworth) was strongly acidic [pH(CaCl2) < 4.21 to a depth of 40 cm and contained high concentrations of soil aluminium (Al). At the other site (Lake Rowan), yield responses to lime application had been measured previously, but only in Al-sensitive wheat cultivars. At Beechworth, pasture yield responses to lime were not consistent but. when observed. occurred in autumn and winter in all 3 pasture types. Phalaris pastures showed yield increases more often than cocksfoot and annual pastures. Low magnesium and calcium concentrations may have limited dry matter production, although yields were reasonable on all treatments. Where lime was applied, growth responses may have been due to alleviation of Al toxicity. At Beechworth, pasture yield was increased where lime increased pH from 4.2 to 4.6 and decreased soil Al (measured in 10 mmol CaCl2/L) from 11 to <3 �g/g soil. Herbage manganese concentrations were not high in phalaris and subterranean clover, and cocksfoot manganese standards were not available. At Lake Rowan (pH 4.7, Al <1 �g/g), no growth responses to lime were seen in any pasture treatment, and annual grass based pastures sometimes had higher yields than phalaris and cocksfoot pastures. On strongly acidic soils such as at Beechworth, incorporation of lime prior to pasture establishment should be considered. Perennial grasses may reduce further soil degradation through acidification. Soil A1 concentrations are commonly lower in ley-cropping areas, and the inclusion of perennial grasses in ley pastures requires further evaluation.

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) on potato in south-eastern South Australia

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
GR Stirling ◽  
MF Wachtel
Keyword(s):  
Potato Crop ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Meloidogyne Hapla ◽  
Root Knot Nematode ◽  
Alternate Host ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Potato Crops

In south-eastern South Australia root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) caused losses to potato crops in fields that were sown once every 5- 15 years and were used for grazing in the intervening years. Although seed used by some growers was infested with M. hapla, the nematode also survived between potato crops on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), the dominant pasture species, and capeweed (Cryptostemma calendula). Subterranean clover was the most abundant alternate host. Nematodes invaded clover seedlings that established following rain in April and produced eggs about 12 weeks later. A second generation was produced in late winter and spring, so that a relatively high root-knot nematode population was present when potatoes were planted. The population increased rapidly on potatoes and numbers capable of causing severe root damage were observed 10- 15 weeks after planting. The growing of non-host crops, or the use of herbicides or cultivation to eliminate subterranean clover in the winter prior to the potato crop, should be investigated. In a nematicide trial, ethylene dibromide at 70 and 110 kg/ha increased yields of potato cv. Pontiac by about 90%.

Tactical versus continuous stocking in perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pastures grazed by sheep in south-western Victoria. 1. Stocking rates and herbage production

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Waller ◽  
P. W. G. Sale ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Soil Fertility Status ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Terminal Sire ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Stocking Rates

A 4-year field experiment was carried out in south-western Victoria to determine whether tactical stocking might improve perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) persistence and prime lamb production, compared with the more common practice of year-around continuous stocking. Tactical stocking consisted of variable length summer, autumn and winter rotations and continuous stocking in spring. The 2 grazing strategies were compared on 2 contrasting pastures: an upgraded pasture, sown with newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with 26 kg phosphorus/ha.year, and a more typical naturalised perennial ryegrass pasture receiving 6 kg phosphorus/ha.year. Paddocks were grazed by Border Leicester x Merino ewes, which were mated to a terminal sire to lamb in September. The effects of the grazing systems and pasture treatments on herbage production and stocking rate are presented in this paper. Herbage production was similar between the treatments, but tactical stocking significantly increased herbage mass during the growing season (P<0.05) compared with continuous stocking. In spring each year, the herbage mass generally exceeded 3000 kg dry matter/ha in tactically stocked paddocks and averaged 500–900 kg dry matter/ha higher than the mass on continuously stocked paddocks. This enabled the year-round stocking rate to be increased by an average of 9% over the 4 years of the experiment. We considered that the stocking rates could not be further increased, despite the higher herbage mass in spring, as stock reduced the dry herbage to a low residual mass by the opening rains in autumn. In contrast, stocking rates averaged 51% higher on the upgraded pasture compared with the typical pasture over the 4 years of the experiment. This indicates that pasture improvement and soil fertility status have a much greater impact on productivity than changes to grazing method. However, tactical stocking was able to increase the sustainability of prime lamb production on upgraded pastures in a dry summer climate, by maintaining herbage cover on the paddocks over the summer–autumn period.

Tolerance of perennial pasture grass seedlings to pre- and post-emergent grass herbicides

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 637 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
B. C. D. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Leaf Damage ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Research Committee

The tolerance of 5 perennial grasses during the seedling stage to pre- and post-emergent grass herbicides was examined in 3 glasshouse experiments. The perennial grass species screened were phalaris, (Phalaris aquatica L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), wallaby grass [Austrodanthonia richardsonii (Cashm.) H.P. Linder], perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were included as non-target species and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) and oats (Avena spp.) as representatives of typical weed species. Herbicides evaluated were fluazifop-p, tralkoxydim, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl + pyrazoline, sethoxydim, flamprop-m-methyl, quizalofop-p-ethyl, clethodim, simazine, imazethapyr, propyzamide, carbetamide, clodinafop-propargyl + cloquintocet-mexyl, propaquizafop, atrazine, trifluralin, triallate, pendimethalin, metribuzin, trifluralin + oryzalin, cyanazine, chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron. Herbicide phytotoxicity was assessed 15 and 30 days after post-emergent herbicide application using the European Weed Research Committee (EWRC) visual score of leaf damage (1 indicating no effect, 9 indicating all plants dead) and plant herbage yield depression relative to the unsprayed control. Plant responses to pre-emergent herbicides were assessed 45 days after sowing. Most herbicides were highly phytotoxic (EWRC score 4–9) to the perennial grass seedlings. However, atrazine, flamprop-m-methyl, imazethapyr, fenoxaprop-ethyl, and triallate caused less severe phytotoxicity (EWRC score 1–4) in phalaris, fescue, cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass from which they could be expected to recover, with yield reductions of between 0 and 45%, 30 days after spraying. Simazine caused yield losses of 20–50% in fescue, phalaris and perennial ryegrass which may be acceptable in swards with high weed burdens. Wallaby grass showed tolerance to flamprop-m-methyl, carbetamide, propyzamide and imazethapyr. Subterranean clover was tolerant of most herbicides with yield losses less than 20% except for the post-emergent herbicides simazine and atrazine, and the pre-emergent herbicides triasulfuron, metribuzin, cyanazine and chlorsulfuron where yield suppression was between 50 and 99%.

Availability to grazing sheep of gastrointestinal nematode infection arising from summer contamination of pastures

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Donald ◽  
FHW Morley ◽  
PJ Waller ◽  
A Axelsen ◽  
JR Donnelly
Keyword(s):  
Haemonchus Contortus ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematode ◽  
Infected Sheep ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Nematode Eggs ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Clover Pasture

In two successive years, separate phalaris-subterranean clover pasture plots near Canberra were contaminated with nematode eggs by grazing with naturally infected sheep in each of the summer months (December, January, February) and the first month of autumn (March). At intervals until mid- to late winter, the availability of infection on pasture was estimated by grazing with worm-free 'tracer' lambs which were subsequently slaughtered for worm counts. Summer rainfall in both years was above average. Tracer counts of Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus and Nematodirus spp. per l08 eggs per hectare remained high during summer, with evidence that migration of larvae to the herbage could continue for at least 2 months after contamination. Rates of decline in tracer worm counts over the autumn and winter did not differ between years, and from an assumed maximum 2 months after contamination in each of the summer months, were fastest from December and slowest from February contamination. These rates were similar for all genera on December-contaminated plots, but on January and February plots, Ostertagia spp. declined more slowly. H. contortus numbers fell sharply in early autumn to be low by the end of May. By mid July there would be few larvae of all genera available on pastures contaminated in December and January, but this is less certain on February-contaminated pastures, especially for Ostertagia spp. Implications for the control of nematode infections in sheep by anthelmintic treatment and grazing management are considered.

Effects of reducing anthelmintic input upon growth and faecal egg and larval counts in young farmed deer grazing chicory (Cichorium intybus) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture

1999 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. HOSKIN ◽  
T. N. BARRY ◽  
P. R. WILSON ◽  
W. A. G. CHARLESTON ◽  
J. HODGSON
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Anthelmintic Treatment ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasite ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Deer Grazing

A rotational grazing experiment using weaner deer was conducted at Palmerston North, New Zealand, during the autumn, winter and spring, to compare the voluntary feed intake (VFI), liveweight gain (LWG) and carcass production of deer grazing chicory with those grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture. Deer were either treated with anthelmintic at 3-weekly intervals (T) or anthelmintic was withheld until trigger-treatment (TT) criteria were attained. Pure red and 0·75 red: 0·25 elk hybrid stags and hinds were given forage allowances of 5 kg DM/deer/day in autumn and early-mid winter, 6 kg DM/deer/day in late winter and 7 kg DM/deer/day in spring. Deer grazed chicory or pasture in autumn and spring, with all deer combined on pasture during winter when chicory was dormant. Organic matter digestibility of diet selected was greater for chicory than for pasture in both autumn and spring.Anthelmintic-treated deer grazing pasture in autumn had significantly higher VFI and LWG, contributing to higher carcass weights, than TT deer. Anthelmintic treatment had no effect on these measures for deer grazing chicory in autumn. Clinical signs of lungworm infection were evident in pasture TT deer during autumn and winter, and in chicory TT deer grazing pasture during winter. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were significantly greater for pasture TT deer during autumn and early winter than all other groups. Faecal lungworm larval counts (FLC) were significantly greater for chicory TT deer following transfer to pasture, than for all other groups in early winter, although both FEC and FLC were low. Faecal larval counts were poorly related to clinical signs of lungworm infection during autumn, but were a better guide in winter. Plasma pepsinogen concentrations appeared unrelated to gastrointestinal parasite infection. Trigger-treated deer grazing pasture required five anthelmintic treatments during autumn and winter. The chicory TT group required no anthelmintic treatment when grazing chicory during autumn, but required two treatments after transfer from chicory to pasture during winter.There was no effect of anthelmintic regime on VFI and LWG in spring, and LWG was greater for deer grazing chicory than those grazing pasture. Hybrid deer had greater spring LWG and carcass weights than red deer when grazing chicory, but similar LWG and carcass weights when grazing pasture.It was concluded that grazing chicory offers the potential for reducing anthelmintic use in farmed weaner deer, particularly during autumn.

Changes in nutritive characteristics associated with plant height, and nutrient selection by dairy cows grazing four perennial pasture grasses

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Cullen ◽  
D. Bullen ◽  
C. Hutcheson ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
M. H. Deighton
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Nutrient Selection ◽  
Selection Differentials

Previous research has documented nutritive characteristics of perennial ryegrass-based pastures and subsequent nutrient-selection differentials when dairy cows graze such pastures, but there has been little comparable research on alternative pasture grasses. The aim of the present study was to compare the pre-grazing nutritive characteristics of four perennial grasses, how nutrients vary with plant height, and selection differentials achieved by dairy cows grazing these grasses in late winter and late spring. The study utilised an established field experiment, with four replicates of monoculture swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth.), in western Gippsland, Victoria. Eighty individual tillers per replicate were sampled to ground level immediately pre- and post-grazing in late winter (July–August, vegetative tillers only) and late spring (November–December, vegetative and reproductive tillers sampled separately), dissected into three height categories (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10+ cm) and analysed for nutritive characteristics. For vegetative tillers in both seasons, perennial ryegrass had the highest estimated metabolisable energy concentration and lowest neutral detergent fibre concentration of all species. In spring, reproductive tillers had consistently lower nutritive characteristics than did vegetative tillers. Selection differentials, calculated as the ratio of nutritive characteristics selected by the herd to that available pre-grazing, showed that cows selected herbage with higher crude protein concentration but there was little evidence for selection of higher metabolisable energy concentration. The selection differentials reflected the vertical distribution of nutrients in the tillers. The present results have provided new information to assist in developing grazing guidelines for alternative perennial grasses.

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