Dryland Legume Pasture Systems: pasture demonstrations on lower Eyre Peninsula

2019 - 2021

Research organisaton
Funding source
Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula

Trial details

Researcher(s) Andrew Ware
Contact email andrew@epagresearch.com.au
Year(s) 2019 - 2021
Contributor Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial location(s) Butler, SA
Ungarra, SA
Dryland Legume Pasture Systems: pasture demonstrations on lower Eyre Peninsula locations
Aims

This article will report on findings from two pasture trials conducted on the lower Eyre Peninsula in the 2019-2021 growing seasons. The trials are part of the demonstration component of the Dryland Pasture Legume Systems (DLPS) project developed with the former LEADA committee/AIR EP Medium Rainfall RD&E committee to answer several questions about how pasture performance could be improved in the region. 
Demonstration 1: What is the best pasture species/ mix of species to plant in paddocks with differing soil types? 
Background 
Paddocks across the region often have soil types that vary, ie. changing from heavier flats to sandier rises, with pH varying from below 6 to above 8. Getting pasture species established and maintaining good production levels across this landscape is often challenging. 

Key messages

• Medic species appear to be well adapted to be able to produce pasture biomass and regenerate well after a year of cropping on the alkaline soils of the lower Eyre Peninsula {EP).

• Vetch species can produce high quantities of biomass in the year of planting and may be best suited to farming systems with more intensive cropping enterprises that have run down pasture seed reserves.

• The alternative species evaluated did not appear to be well adapted to the soil type/ environments/ farming systems that they were planted into.

• Pasture species must have a level of tolerance to broad leaf herbicides to allow for the removal of broadleaf weeds, which in some situations and soil types is seeing pasture production severely restricted with broadleaf weeds.

• Soil type differences did appear to reflect differences in pasture production, particularly getting pastures to establish on sandy soil types, but the work was unable to identify a superior pasture species beyond medic or vetch adapted to the lower EP's sandy soils.

Lead research organisation Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC 9175959
Related program Dryland Legume Pasture Systems (Rural R&D for Profit)
Acknowledgments

Gary Miller, Mark Saunders, and Ashley Flint of EPAG Reasearch for the technical assistance. Ben Pugsley and family, Clinton Charlton and family for providing the land for the trials. 


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Forage: Mixed
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Unreplicated

Butler 2019

Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 2m x 10m
Plot replication 3

Butler 2020

Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Butler 2021

Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Ungarra 2019

Sowing machinery

12m air seeder

Non replicated plots 

 

Sow date 30 May 2019 30 May 2019
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Ungarra 2020

Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Ungarra 2021

Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Butler, SA Not specified
Ungarra, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Butler, SA Sodosol
Ungarra, SA Tenosol
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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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.

Butler SA

Ungarra SA

Butler SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Ungarra SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

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.

Trial report and links

2019 trial report



Trial last modified: 16-03-2023 11:18am AEST