To report on experimenting with a range of pasture and fodder-type options based on TG1, 2 and 3 and aims to gain an understanding of how they work in the south-eastern HRZ.
Key messages
An aggressive fodder species with good herbicide options is effective at controlling weeds.
Grazing in summer or winter has no significant effect on weeds. Instead, controlling the late-in-crop weeds that survive grazing and preventing them setting seed is what’s important.
The timing of seed removal operations is critical. Hay can be just as effective at reducing weeds as silage if it is timed correctly to prevent seed set.
Modelling has shown that the longer the pasture phase, the greater the weed control. Early work indicates that this may be the case but future trials will need to confirm this.
Trial results Change in annual ryegrass population under three different species sown at common, double and triple sowing rate
#
Variety
Treatment 1
Dry matter biomass (t DM/ha)
Establishment plants (plants/m2)
Weeds (plants/m2)
1
█
Unspecified
█
Balansa clover 6 kg/ha
5.176
113
19
2
█
Unspecified
█
Balansa clover 12 kg/ha
5.812
202
34
3
█
Unspecified
█
Balansa clover 18 kg/ha
4.031
248
19
4
█
Unspecified
█
Peas 100 kg/ha
5.637
43
23
5
█
Unspecified
█
Peas 200 kg/ha
6.393
74
25
6
█
Unspecified
█
Peas 300 kg/ha
4.785
81
26
7
█
Unspecified
█
Forage oats 100 kg/ha
8.802
187
56
8
█
Unspecified
█
Forage oats 200 kg/ha
7.824
279
23
9
█
Unspecified
█
Forage oats 300 kg/ha
9.681
447
33
Dry matter biomass t DM/ha
Establishment plants plants/m2
Weeds plants/m2
Trial results Dry matter production and weed control efficacy
#
Variety
Dry matter biomass (t DM/ha)
Weeds (plants/m2)
1
█
Unspecified
█
Sub clover (grazing)
2.349
19
2
█
Unspecified
█
Lucerne (grazing)
1.692
19
3
█
Unspecified
█
Control (no sown fodder species)
3.242
41
4
█
Unspecified
█
Arrowleaf clover (silage)
7.241
15
5
█
Unspecified
█
Persian clover (silage)
5.953
27
6
█
Unspecified
█
Forage oats (silage)
8.664
56
7
█
Unspecified
█
Ryegrass (silage)
7.727
19
8
█
Unspecified
█
Balansa clover (brown manuring)
5.176
19
9
█
Unspecified
█
Peas (brown manuring)
6.135
23
10
█
Unspecified
█
Serradella (brown manuring)
4.752
5
Dry matter biomass t DM/ha
Weeds plants/m2
Trial results Weed populations at Inverleigh (WR) with or without a shallow autumn cultivation
#
Variety
Weeds (plants/m2)
1
█
None used
█
No Autumn tickle
7.8
2
█
None used
█
Autumn tickle
3.9
Weeds plants/m2
Trial results Weed populations at Lake Bolac (ARG) with or without a shallow autumn cultivation
#
Variety
Weeds (plants/m2)
1
█
None used
█
No Autumn tickle
172
2
█
None used
█
Autumn tickle
157
Weeds plants/m2
Climate
Derived climate information
No observed climate data available for this trial. Derived climate data is
determined from trial site location and national weather sources.
Inverleigh VIC
Lake Bolac VIC
Inverleigh VIC
Lake Bolac VIC
SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to
construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol
16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.
