| Researcher(s) |
Ross Ballard Jessica Gunn David Peck |
|---|---|
| Contact email | david.peck@sa.gov.au |
| Year(s) | 2019 - 2021 |
| Contributor | Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula |
| Trial location(s) |
Lock, SA
Mount Cooper, SA Wirrulla, SA |
Over the past three decades there has been a shift from integrated crop-livestock production to intensive cropping in dry areas, which has significantly reduced the resilience of farms in low to medium rainfall areas. Intensive cropping is prone to herbicide resistant weeds, large nitrogen fertiliser requirements, and major financial shocks due to frost, drought or low grain prices.
A pilot project with MLA and AWi in WA and southern NSW has demonstrated how novel pasture legumes such as serradella, biserrula and bladder clover can improve livestock production while reducing nitrogen requirements, weeds and diseases for following crops. The extent to which these new legumes establish, grow and persist on South Australia's alkaline sandy soils requires clarification.
The demonstration sites are primarily an extension tool, unlike research trials requiring detailed data collection. The purpose of these sites is to gather information on regional legume performance, including benefits to the crops that follow.
2020:
Grain protein, but not grain yield was significantly affected by the type of pasture legume previously grown.
The findings will be used to prioritise further research and development of novel pasture species on sandy soils.
2021:
The annual medics were the most persistent species after cropping.
Grain protein, but not grain yield was significantly affected by the type of pasture legume previously grown.
Volga vetch produced the most biomass in the establishment year at both sites.
The findings will be used to prioritise further research and development of novel pasture species on sandy soils.
| Lead research organisation |
SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation |
SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre |
| Trial funding source | AGRR&D 9175959 |
| Trial funding source | GRDC |
| Trial funding source | MLA |
| Trial funding source | AWI |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments |
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agricuture and Water Resources as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program, GRDC, MLA, and AWI. The research partners include the SARDI, Murdoch University, CSIRO, DPIRD WA, and Charles Sturt University, as well as grower groups: Mingenew Irwin Group, Corrigin Farm Improvement Group, Asheep Esperance, EPARF, Upper North Farming Systems, Mallee Sustainable Farming, Lower Eyre Ag Development Association, Birchip Cropping Group, Farmlink, Central West Farming Systems. We would like to thank Kerran Glover and Dion Trezona for the use of their land for the demonstration sites and for assistance in broadacre management. We gratefully acknowledge the help of Ian Richter for site mgmt, neil King and Fiona Tomwey for data collection, and the Waite team for data processing. |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop type | Pasture: Mixed species |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Demonstration |
| Trial design | Replicated |
| Sow date | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | Not specified |
| Plot size | 2m x 25m |
| Plot replication | 1 |
| Psuedoreplication | Not specified |
| Sow date | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | Not specified |
| Plot size | 2m x 25m |
| Plot replication | 2 |
| Psuedoreplication | Not specified |
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.
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Note that PBR cover is administered through the Plant Breeders’ Right Act 1994 (