Effects of four grazing management systems on the production and persistence of dryland lucerne in central western New South Wales

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (62) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Brownlee
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
South Wales

During an experiment conducted for eighteen months at Condobolin, New South Wales, the production and persistence of dryland lucerne grazed by Merino wethers at 10 ha-1 yr-1 were measured under set stocking and three rotational grazing treatments differing in length of spelling period between grazings (grazed one week in four, six or eight weeks). The results showed that although dry matter availability and lucerne survival increased with decreased grazing frequency, only 35 per cent of the lucerne survived in the treatment with the slowest rotation.

Sheep camping influences soil properties and pasture production in an acidic soil of New South Wales, Australia

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yining Niu ◽  
Guangdi Li ◽  
Lingling Li ◽  
K Yin Chan ◽  
Albert Oates
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Acidic Soil ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
South Wales

This paper reports sheep camping influences on soil chemical and physical properties, and pasture dry matter (DM) production of an acidic soil on the southwest slopes of New South Wales, Australia. The experiment was conducted in the spring (October-November) of 2005 on a long-term field experimental site after 13 yr of rotational grazing. The factors considered were sheep camping (distance from the camping site), pasture type (perennial vs. annual pastures) and lime application (limed vs. unlimed treatments). Over 13 yr of rotational grazing, significant amounts of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were deposited near the sheep camping site via the deposition of animal excreta. Total C increased from 32.8 g kg-1 20 m away from the camping site to 41.9 g kg-1 at the camping site in 0-5 cm soil depth. The Colwell P increased from 44.0 to 125.9 mg kg-1 from the non-camping area to the camping site in 0-5 cm soil depth. The most interesting result from the current study is that soil bulk density decreased as the intensity of camping increased. On the perennial pastures, soil bulk density was 0.96 and 1.34 g cm-3 at the camping site in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil depths, respectively, whereas soil bulk density was 1.14 and 1.39 g cm-3 at 20 m away from the camping site at the corresponding soil depths. Across pasture types, mean pasture DM was highest at the camping site (7.3 and 6.6 t ha-1 for the limed and unlimed pastures, respectively), and lowest 20 m away from the camping site (5.4 and 4.5 t ha-1 for the limed and unlimed pastures, respectively). The vigorous pasture growth and high organic matter at the camping site may have had a "cushioning effect", thereby reducing soil compaction. However, this camping effect was confined to within 5 m of the camping site. It is concluded that sheep camping can create spatial heterogeneity in soil chemical and physical properties. The non-uniform influence on pasture productivity and composition could be minimised by altering the grazing management strategies, such as periodic relocation of the site of shelter, or further subdivision of the grazing paddock, if necessary. Key words: Soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, bulk density, grazing management

Evaluation of oat forage for finishing prime lambs on the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (86) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Archer ◽  
FG Swain
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Stocking Rates

In 1967 at Armidale, New South Wales, oats (Avena sativa cv. Cooba) were grown with or without 180 kg N ha-I and rotationally grazed on a three paddock system from July 13 to November 16 with Border Leicester x Merino lambs. Stocking rates were 20,40 or 60 sheep ha-1 (experiment 1). In 1968 (experiment 2) oats were rotationally grazed on either a three or four paddock system at stocking rates of 20, 30 or 40 lambs ha-1. Grazing began on either June 6 or July 17 and terminated on November 20. The rotational grazing systems allowed for a grazing period of two weeks and regrowth periods of four or six weeks. Application of nitrogen increased the quantity of dry matter available prior to grazing in 1967 by 20 per cent but did not affect regrowth rates during winter and early spring. In 1968, approximately 33 per cent more forage was available prior to grazing in mid-July than in early June. There was little effect of grazing management on the rate of regrowth. In both years, regrowth rates were low during winter and carry over residue was required to provide a continuity of available forage. Liveweight gains of lambs during winter and early spring reached 170 to 200 g head-1 day-1 at stocking rates of 20 or 30 sheep ha-1 for the early and late commencement of grazing treatments respectively. Lower gains to 120 g head-1 day-1 were recorded for six to eight weeks at higher stocking rates but subsequent liveweight losses occurred; these being greater if grazing commenced early. Neither N nor grazing management system materially affected liveweight gains. Approximately 1.5 kg available dry matter head-1day-1 was required at the start of each fortnightly grazing period to ensure maximum liveweight gains

Performance of temperate legumes and associated grasses on granitic soils of low fertility in the New England region of New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (77) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Thompson
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

A range of temperate annual and perennial legumes, naturalized or commonly sown in the area, was examined at three field sites in low fertility soils derived from granite on the south western slopes of the New England Region, New South Wales. They were compared over a four year period in terms of their persistence, dry matter and nitrogen production and their compatibility with associated temperate perennial grasses, The response of sown grass to nitrogen fertilizer application was also examined in the absence of legume. Ten legumes were examined at one site and six of these at the other two sites. In general, nitrogen yields were ranked similarly to total dry matter yields of all treatments, including grasses in the absence of legume. However, the legumes were ranked differently in terms of productivity of the legume component and productivity of associated grass. At all sites lucerne gave the highest yields of total dry matter and of legume and the lowest yield and persistence of associated grass-comparable to grass growing in the absence of legume or applied nitrogen. Subterranean clover was ranked second or third in total dry matter yield, depending on site, but provided the highest yield of associated grasscomparable to grass receiving high levels of applied nitrogen. Under this legume soil nitrogen levels tended to be highest. Rose clover, sown at one site only, yielded more legume dry matter than subterranean clover but grass yield was comparable to that with lucerne. The results suggest that subterranean clover is the superior legume for successful mixed sowings although inclusion of white clover could be justified. Lucerne appears to be best sown as a pure sward.

Chemical seedbed preparation and the efficiency of nitrogen utilization by sod-sown oats. 2. Spraying interval and comparison of herbicides

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (50) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Murtagh
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Ammonium Thiocyanate ◽  
Nitrogen Utilization ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Paspalum Dilatatum ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seedbed Preparation

The effectiveness of chemical seedbed preparation for sod-sown oats was studied using varying intervals between spraying and sowing. Four herbicides were compared in a second experiment. Both experiments were conducted on paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum) dominant pastures on red basaltic soil on the North Coast of New South Wales. Herbicides were most effective when applied at 6.7 kg acid equivalent a hectare. At this rate, the highest yields of dry matter and nitrogen were obtained when there was a three-week interval and considerably less when there was no interval. A mixture of 2,2-DPA (2,2-dichloropropionic acid) and amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) was more effective than 2,2-DPA alone with a three-week spraying interval but there was no difference with a six-week interval. Both amitrole and a mixture of amitrole and ammonium thiocyanate were ineffective for chemical seedbed preparation on paspalum pastures;

Response of oats to seeding rate and nitrogen in the southern wheat belt of New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
OR Southwood ◽  
F Mengersen ◽  
PJ Milham
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
New South ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Oat Cultivars

The effect of three rates of nitrogen (22.4, 44.8 and 89.6 kgNha-1 as anhydrous ammonia) and three seeding rates (67.3, 100.9, and 134.5 kg ha-1) on forage and grain production of two oat cultivars and on herbage nitrate-nitrogen concentration, was assessed at three sites in the southern New South Wales wheat belt. When oats were sown after two or three consecutive wheat crops nitrogen at 22.4 kg ha-1 was optimal for both forage and grain production. Herbage growth was best at the highest seeding rate (134.5 kg ha-1) but grain production was not influenced by seeding rate. Herbage growth of the oat cultivars Cooba and Coolabah was similar, but grain yields were higher from the latter. Herbage nitrate nitrogen increased linearly with nitrogen fertilizer application, levels that could be toxic to animals occurring in June. Cautious grazing management may be required during this period.

Persistence and water use efficiency of a tropical grass and lucerne on a solodic soil on the Far North-West Slopes of New South Wales

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Tow
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Spring Temperatures ◽  
Use Efficiency

The persistence and water use efficiency of Digitaria eriantha spp. eriantha and Hunter river lucerne were compared on red solodic soil with a hardsetting surface and poor internal drainage, on the North- West Slopes of New South Wales. After prolonged watering, the profile was wet to a depth of 48 � 1.5 cm, with an available moisture store of 90 mm. Over 3 years, persistence of digitaria was excellent. The population of lucerne was reduced following flooding at summer temperatures, Dry matter production of nitrogen (N) fertilised digitaria per mm warm season rainfall was similar to that of tropical grasses adapted to comparable rainfall environments in subtropical Queensland. Lucerne dry matter per mm rainfall was only about half that of digitaria (3.2 v. 6.3 kg). Lucerne grew well in mixture with digitaria except under prolonged wet soil conditions in summer. Artificial solodic profiles were constructed in the glasshouse to compare digitaria and lucerne in monoculture and mixture under varying temperature, moisture, and N regimes. Lucerne showed sensitivity to both high and low moisture levels at summer temperatures but performed very well at spring temperatures and moderate moisture levels where the mean evapotranspiration ratio was 400 g water per g dry matter. Water use efficiency was higher in digitaria than in lucerne, except at spring temperatures without added N. Water use efficiency of the mixture was always similar to that of the most efficient monoculture of the particular treatment.

Survey of the productivity, composition and estimated inputs of fixed nitrogen by pastures in central-western New South Wales

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Bowman ◽  
W. Smith ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
J. Brockwell
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
South Wales

Total productivity and legume nitrogen fixation (N2 fixation) in dryland pastures were examined in a 2 year study (1999–2001) on 118 farms in central-western New South Wales. Pasture exclosure cages, placed at 217 on-farm sites, were harvested on 7 occasions and the foliage hand-sorted according to species in order to measure shoot dry matter (DM). The separated legume shoot material collected in spring 1999 (52 different legume samples) and 2000 (76 different legume samples) from a subset of representative pastures (41 cages on 28 different farms in 1999, 32 cages on 25 different farms in 2000) was also analysed for concentration of nitrogen (%N) and 15N natural abundance. These data were subsequently used to calculate the proportion of the legume shoot N derived from atmospheric N (%Ndfa), comparative measures of the relative efficiency of N2 fixation (kg N fixed/t DM accumulated) and the amounts of shoot N fixed (kg N/ha). The survey encompassed 8 common pasture types, and 5 others that were less common, ranging from native perennial grass pastures with little legume content to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures with and without companion clovers. Fifteen legume species were found in the pastures, some only occasionally. Lucerne and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were the only perennials. Mean spring estimates of %Ndfa were similar in 1999 and 2000 for lucerne (72 and 81%, respectively), rose clover (T. hirtum All., 82 and 77%) and annual medics (Medicago spp., 89 and 86%). For the remaining 12 legume species, measures of %Ndfa ranged from 64 to 95% and averaged 83%. Shoot %N contents were greater for lucerne than for the other 14 legumes and this was reflected in the comparative measures of N2 fixation which ranged from 14.5 kg N/t DM for rose clover to 25.7 kg N/t DM for lucerne in 2000. The most productive pasture type comprised lucerne plus balansa clover [T. michelianum Savi var. balansae (Boiss.) Azn.], white clover or arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi), but all pasture types that contained lucerne were highly productive. Spring was the most productive season and summer the least. Lucerne was overwhelmingly the most productive legume and was responsible for >83% of the fixed N in those pastures that contained both lucerne and other legumes. Lucerne productivity was approximately uniform throughout the year whereas, for other pastures, especially those based on rose clover or subterranean clover (T. subterraneum L.), there were sharp peaks in spring and little or no dry matter production over summer. The presence of lucerne in pastures significantly (P<0.05) reduced broadleaf weeds. It was concluded that, where there are requirements in central-western New South Wales agriculture for uniform forage production throughout the year and a high input of fixed N, lucerne is substantially superior to other species.

Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. 5. A bioeconomic framework for assessing the long-term economic benefits of grazing management tactics and implications for sustainability

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Jones ◽  
P. M. Dowling ◽  
D. L. Michalk ◽  
W. McG. King
Keyword(s):  
Programming Model ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sustainable Grazing ◽  
Management Tactics

There have been significant declines in the perennial grass (PG) content in native and sown pastures across temperate Australia. Not only has this reduced agricultural productivity, it has contributed to more serious degradation, such as loss of soil and biodiversity, decreasing water quality, and dryland salinity caused by rising watertables. Results from the Sustainable Grazing Systems Key Program (SGS) research undertaken at Carcoar on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales were reported by Michalk et al. (2003). This research indicated that grazing management tactics can be used to manipulate pasture composition, thereby changing animal production and water-use patterns. The main grazing tactic investigated was termed a summer grazing rest, where resting was imposed in late spring if PG composition was <50%. Reported in this present paper is an economic framework for valuing the long-term benefits of grazing management tactics. The framework involves the development of a bioeconomic modelling system that links a dynamic programming model with biophysical models for water and environmental processes, soil fertility, pasture growth, livestock energy requirements and the change in pasture species composition. The study concludes that long-term economic returns are improved by strategies, e.g. a summer rest, that lead to an increase in PG composition over time. The study also determined that environmental factors, such as deep drainage, runoff and soil loss, are reduced as perenniality is increased.

Production from tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) at four contrasting sites in New South Wales

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 639 ◽  
Author(s):  
PL Milthorpe ◽  
PR Dann
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Good Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Fodder Crops

In 1985, experiments were conducted at 4 localities in south-eastern and central New South Wales, to assess the production potential of tagasaste. The results were disappointing: 2 experiments failed to establish because of soil waterlogging, while production from the other 2 sites was only intermittent. Annual dry matter production did not exceed 3 t/ha at Condobolin or 5 t/ha at Yass. Although survival of established plants was good, production was limited by prolonged dry periods at Condobolin and by low temperatures during winter at Yass. Tagasaste is costly to establish (up to $A500/ha) and difficult to manage. In our environments, conventional pastures or fodder crops which require simpler management would probably out-produce tagasaste at most times during the experimental period.

Growth, yield and nitrogen requirements of winter sown cereals grown after cotton or summer fallow in the lower Namoi Valley, New South Wales

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (125) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
GK McDonald ◽  
BG Sutton ◽  
FW Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Summer Fallow ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

Three winter cereals (wheat varieties Songlen and WW 15, triticale variety Satu) were grown after cotton or summer fallow under three levels of applied nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg N/ha) at Narrabri, New South Wales. The cereals were sown on August 7, 1980 and growing season rainfall was supplemented by a single irrigation. Leaf area, total shoot dry matter production and ears per square metre were lower after cotton than after summer fallow, while grain yields of cereals sown immediately after cotton were 33% lower than those sown after fallow. Adding nitrogen increased leaf area, dry matter and grain yields of crops grown after cotton and fallow, but significant increases were not obtained with more than 100 kg/ha of applied nitrogen. Crops grown after cotton required an application of 100 kg N/ha for leaf and dry matter production at anthesis to equal that of crops grown after fallow with no additional nitrogen. The corresponding cost to grain yield of growing cotton was equivalent to 200 kg N/ha. The low grain yield responses measured in this experiment (1 8 and 10% increase to 100 kg N/ha after cotton and fallow, respectively) were attributed to the combined effects of late sowing, low levels of soil moisture and loss, by denitrification, of some of the applied nitrogen. The triticale, Satu, yielded significantly less than the two wheats (1 99 g/m2 for Satu c.f. 255 and 286 g/m2 for Songlen and WW 15, respectively), and did not appear to be a viable alternative to wheat in a cotton rotation.

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