Performance of annual pasture legumes in cropping rotations in the cool temperate zone of south-eastern Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Zhang ◽  
P. M. Evans ◽  
P. A. Riffkin

The relative performance of 3 alternative pasture legumes, in comparison with subterranean clover, grown in a 1:1 pasture:crop rotation was investigated during 1997–2001, at 2 sites in the high rainfall (>500 mm/year) zone of southern Australia. Seedling densities of the pasture legumes (before and after crop) were examined, along with herbage dry matter production, growth pattern and seed production. After 2 cycles of a 1:1 pasture:crop rotation, average seedling densities of balansa (Trifolium michelianum Savi var. michelianum), Persian (T. resupinatum L. var. resupinatum Gib. and Belli), arrowleaf (T. vesiculosum Savi.) and subterranean (T. subterraneum L.) clovers at the 2 sites were 6810, 2910, 680 and 630 plants/m2, respectively. Average cumulative herbage mass in 2001 was 7.49, 5.21, 8.53 and 7.76 t DM/ha.year, respectively. All clovers produced a large seed pool: balansa, 71.8 g/m2; subterranean, 38.9 g/m2; Persian, 35.5 g/m2; and arrowleaf, 35.4 g/m2. The results suggest that a 1:1 pasture:crop rotation is sustainable, in terms of pasture seed–seedling dynamics for each of the legumes, and that under this system the pasture legumes need to be sown only once.

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
BS Dear ◽  
M Zorin

The persistence and productivity of 12 lines of Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb., encompassing three ploidy groups, and one line of T. montanum subsp. hurnboldtianum were compared in an elevated environment (1150 m) over a 4-year period with one cultivar each of T. repens L. and T. pratense L. Trifolium ambiguum was found to be well adapted to the cold winters and dry summers, all lines persisting throughout the experimental period, whereas the T. repens and T. pratense cultivars disappeared by the fourth year. The T. arnbiguum lines 'Monaro' and 'Kirovakan' (both hexaploid) and 'Alpine' and Forest (diploids) had the highest dry matter production. The control cultivars of T. repens and T. pratense outyielded T. ambiguum in the first year but were substantially less productive in later years as their density declined. T. montanum persisted but produced less dry matter than T. ambiguum and did not produce rhizomes or daughter plants. Ploidy of T. ambiguum was found to affect the date of flowering, persistence, leaflet shape and leaflet area. Productivity was not closely related to ploidy; however, the two most productive lines were hexaploids. All the T. ambiguum lines remained well nodulated over the 4 years, but the diploids had higher leaf nitrogen contents than the other two groups (3.4% vs. 2.5 and 2.4% N). The number of daughter plants produced was positively correlated (r=0.84) with rhizome length, which varied between lines but was not influenced by ploidy. Two bred lines, 'Alpine' (diploid) and 'Monaro' (hexaploid) exhibited superior vigour and spreading ability and warrant further evaluation as possible pasture legumes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajid Latif ◽  
Saliya Gurusinghe ◽  
Paul A. Weston ◽  
William B. Brown ◽  
Jane C. Quinn ◽  
...  

Mixed farming systems have traditionally incorporated subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) as key components of the pasture phase across south-eastern Australia. However, poor adaptation of subterranean clover to acidic soils, insufficient and inconsistent rainfall, high input costs, soil acidification and the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds have reduced efficacy of some traditional clover species in recent years. To overcome these challenges, numerous novel pasture species have been selectively improved and released for establishment in Australia. Despite their suitability to Australian climate and soils, limited knowledge exists regarding their weed-suppressive ability in relation to establishment and regeneration. Field trials were therefore conducted over 3 years in New South Wales to evaluate the suppressive potential of selected pasture legume species and cultivars as monocultures and in mixed stands against dominant annual pasture weeds. Pasture and weed biomass varied significantly between pasture species when sown as monocultures, but mixtures of several species did not differ with regard to establishment and subsequent weed infestation. Arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi.) and biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) cv. Casbah showed improved stand establishment, with higher biomass and reduced weed infestation compared with other pasture species. Generally, weed suppression was positively correlated with pasture biomass; however, yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus L.) cv. Santorini exhibited greater weed suppression than other pasture legumes while producing lower biomass, thereby suggesting a mechanism other than competition for resources affecting weed-suppressive ability. Over the period 2015–17, arrowleaf clover and biserrula cv. Casbah were generally the most consistent annual pasture legumes with respect to yearly regeneration and suppression of annual pasture weed species.


1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
CS Andrew ◽  
PJVanden Berg

The effects of aluminium (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 p.p.m.) on dry matter production and subsequent short-term uptake and translocation of phosphorus in whole plants, and on the uptake of phosphorus by excised roots, of six tropical pasture legumes were ascertained. Macroptilium lathyroides, Desrnodiurn uncinaturn, Lotononis bainesii, and Stylosanthes hurnilis were tolerant species in terms of effects on dry matter production. Glycine wightii was a sensitive species and Medicago sativa a very sensitive one. In the whole plant study, plants were grown in Solution culture with a phosphorus concentration of 2 p.p.m., under the above aluminium treatments. Aluminium increased the subsequent uptake of phosphorus (tops+roots) in all species (phosphorus substrate concentration 1 x 10-5M labelled with 32P, 1 and 3 hr uptake periods). Phosphorus uptake in the tops of the four tolerant species was increased by aluminium treatment, and in the two sensitive species it uas reduced. In both the absence and presence of applied aluminium, L. bainesii was the most efficient species per unit weight of root tissue in sorbing total phosphorus, and in addition had the highest efficiency of translocation of phosphorus from roots to tops. S. humilis was also an efficient species. In the excised root study, addition of aluminium to the solution enhanced the sorption of phosphorus by all species. The enhancement was greater in a relatively strong phosphorus solution (2 x 10-4 M) than in a dilute solution (1 x 10-4). The sorption of phosphorus by excised roots of S. humilis from dilute and relatively strong phosphorus substrates was greater than that of other species, both in the absence and presence of added aluminium. L. bainesii was omitted from the excised root experiments.


2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. McCaskill ◽  
M. C. Raeside ◽  
S. G. Clark ◽  
C. MacDonald ◽  
B. Clark ◽  
...  

Pastures sown to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) with a perennial non-legume could increase feed supply relative to traditional pastures based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Such mixtures might also be preferable to pure lucerne pastures, which are prone to weed invasion. Yield and water-use efficiency (harvested dry matter per unit evapotranspiration) of mixtures with lucerne or subterranean clover were compared a field experiment established under rainfed conditions at Hamilton, Victoria. Soil moisture and dry matter production were measured over 2 years. Treatments included chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) with either lucerne or subterranean clover; pure lucerne; and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with only subterranean clover. In the second year, dry matter production from lucerne mixtures exceeded that of equivalent mixtures with subterranean clover in spring, summer and winter. In spring, the lucerne component continued producing for longer than the clover component through its use of deeper stored soil water, and in summer, lucerne continued to grow slowly after the grass component had entered a drought-induced dormancy. In winter, the contribution from the lucerne component complemented, rather than competed with, that from the non-legume component. Water-use efficiencies during winter–spring ranged from 4 kg ha–1 mm–1 for chicory–clover to 27 kg ha–1 mm–1 for a fescue–lucerne mixture, and during summer–autumn from nil for cocksfoot–clover to 13 kg ha–1 mm–1 for a fescue–lucerne mixture. This study demonstrates that lucerne-based mixtures can increase forage supply per unit water use relative to traditional pastures based on subterranean clover.


1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 833
Author(s):  
JD McFarlane

Seven rates of copper were applied to the soil prior to the sowing of strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferumL. cv. Palestine) on an alkaline peat deficient in copper. Symptoms of copper deficiency were evident only on the untreated plots where the clover did not set seed nor persist into the second year.Over five years� production, 1.0 kg Cu/ha continued to provide adequate copper, with regular dressings of superphosphate, for maximum dry matter production and seed yield. It was found that seed yield was more sensitive than vegetative dry matter yield to sub-optimal copper supply. At the lowest rate of applied copper (0.125 kg/ha), the vegetative yield ranged from 53% to 80% of the maximum harvest yield, whereas the seed yield ranged from 15% to 50% of maximum yield.For tissue sampled in the spring, the proposed critical range for copper concentration in the youngest open leaf (YOL) for vegetative dry matter production is 3-35 mg Cu/kg whereas that for seed production is 4.5-5.5 mg Cu/kg. At other times of the year the critical concentrations were higher. It was not clear if this was due to environmental conditions or changing internal requirements for copper.The critical copper concentration range in whole top (WT) tissue of 3.0-4.0 mg/kg for vegetative dry matter production could be applied to all samplings. For seed yield the critical range for copper concentration in WT was 4.0-5.0 mg/kg for the spring harvests. The critical copper concentration in seed for seed production was 5.0-6.0 mg/kg. In the pasture situation a critical concentration of 5.0-6.0 mg Cu/kg in the WT should be adopted when the animal requirement is considered.


1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (89) ◽  
pp. 1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Michalk ◽  
PA Witschi

Between 1962 and 1964, 4 experiments were conducted at Leeton, New South Wales, Australia to examine the potential productivity of a range of irrigated winter forage crops in providing useful feed during the period of shortage in late autumn and early winter. In addition, the effects of sowing rate were examined for sowings using (a) prepared seedbeds or (b) sod-seeding into existing subterranean clover/Lolium rigidum cv. Wimmera pastures. DM yields at 74, 109, 144 or 173 days from sowing were compared with a subterranean clover/ryegrass control. Of the spp. evaluated the cereals were the most consistent both for initial production and subsequent regrowth. For the cruciferous spp. early cutting (100 days after sowing) proved detrimental to subsequent production, reducing the contribution of the sown spp. to 3% DM. Although the low proportion of the leguminous forages limited their potential production, they increased pasture quality relative to the clover/ryegrass control. DM production of wheat and rape increased with increasing sowing rate on (a) but for turnips there was a yield decline with increased sowing rate. Oats showed no response to sowing rate on (a), but increasing the sowing rate on (b) plots increased the proportion of oats in the pasture, although there was a consequent reduction in total yield. Increases in the contribution made by wheat to total yield as a result of increased sowing on (b) plots were small.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Boom ◽  
Mike Dodd

A 4-year lime rate trial was established on a hill country sheep and cattle property near Te Akau to determine lime effects on pasture utilisation. Four rates of lime were applied (1.25 t/ha, 2.5 t/ha, 5 t/ha and 10 t/ha) to 2 m × 2 m plots, from which soil Al, Ca and pH, pasture grazing heights, dry matter production, pasture species composition, feed quality and brix levels were measured. Lime application reduced soil Al (14.6 to 1.1 mg/kg), and increased Ca and pH (5.0 to 6.2) over time in the highest application rate. Dry matter production responded to all rates of lime in each year, and by the fourth year it was 27% greater (1.25 t/ha treatment), 35% greater (2.5 t/ha treatment), 69% greater (5 t/ha treatment), and 97% greater (10 t/ha treatment) than in the un-limed plots. Ryegrass and subterranean clover content increased with lime rate, whereas chewings fescue and dicot weed content declined. There were no sustained differences in pasture grazing heights, feed quality or brix levels between the control and rates of lime. On this site, all rates of lime were economic to apply by truck or plane when the benefits were spread over 4 years, with the greatest cost-benefit from thelower rates of lime.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Vinicius Iank Bueno ◽  
Matheus Gonçalves Ribeiro ◽  
Fernando Alberto Jacovaci ◽  
Tamara Tais Três ◽  
Guilherme Fernando Mattos Leão ◽  
...  

Abstract This study evaluated dry matter yield and nutritional characteristics of different oat genotypes (Avena spp.) for ensiling. Treatments consisted of genotypes of white oat IPR 126 (Avena sativa), black oat Cabocla IPR and Agrocoxilha (Avena strigosa), and BRS Madrugada and BRS Centauro (Avena vertis). Oats were harvested at the phenological stage of milk/dough grain. The design was a completely randomized block scheme, with five treatments and three replications per treatment. The IPR Cabocla genotype showed the highest dry matter content (before and after silo opening) and in vitro dry matter digestibility of fresh forage. No differences were observed for in vitro dry matter digestibility and dry matter losses among silages. The highest silage digestible dry matter yield (kg ha-1) was observed for the BRS Centauro genotype. Thus, despite the better nutritional quality presented by the IPR Cabocla genotype before ensiling, BRS Centauro genotype presented a higher yield of digestible dry matter per hectare.


Author(s):  
R.E. Fitzgerald

Recent increases in the value of gold have led to renewed interest in gold mining - particularly by the dredging of the river flats bordering West Coast rivers. In any future licensing of such dredging, the rehabilitation of the "destroyed" land will be a major consideration. Nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting the growth of radiata pine on the gold dredge tailings; this paper outlines initial results of an exploratory legume-fertilizer trial on levelled tailings in the Taramakau River valley. Twelve legume species were grown with and without superphosphate (+ MO, Mg and K). Tree lucerne (Cytisus proliferus) , Russell lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus) and yellow tree lupin (L. arboreus) grew well without the application of fertilizer but the pasture legumes had substantially increased dry matter production where P was added - in white clover (Trifolium repens) dry matter production was increased from 5.4 to 8.9 t/ha; and total N was 180 and 310 kg N/ha. Tree nutrition and growth were greatly improved by association with a vigorous legume species, In addition, the presence of legumes improved the appearance of the tailings and with a pasture species grazing potential was created


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