Lucerne trials

To report on a case study of lessons learned about growing perennial pastures.

• To validate the results of the development of a rhizobium strain that is able to nodulate with lucerne at lower pH, as achieved in glasshouse trials.

To investigate options for pasture and fodder break crops for southern Victoria with an emphasis on weed control.

To investigate options for pasture and fodder break crops for southern Victoria with an emphasis on weed control.

To look at alternative crops to wheat and barley.

To examine if winter cereals can be successfully sown into exiting lucerne stands to lift winter production but without compromising lucerne production the following summer.

To develop lucerne cultivars, specifically for the southern Australian cropping districts, that are compatible with existing farming systems as well as being productive and persistent. The breeding program is focusing on improving tolerance to acidic soils, persistent grazing and establishment with companion crops

The aim is to improve water use efficiencies of crops and pasture by reducing the soil constraints that impede root growth.

This trial aims to assess the biomass production and quality of legumes oversown with cereals.

To report on activities and results from the core site in 2005.

• To try and identify the dryland cropping rotation for the Central/Northern Midlands area, which will give the best balance of sustainability,  profitability  and  risk management.
• To improve the implementation of better cropping systems in the area. 

To investigate the dry matter (DM) productivity and nutritive value (NV) of a range of pasture species sown independently or in conjunction with Fathom barley at Hart in winter and summer.

To discuss the economics of lucerne establishment.

To discuss the economics of pasture establishment.

To use NGS technology to identify a broader range of pathogens present in the diseased roots. 

• To report on a farm which aims to run both livestock enterprises profitably and at the same time, through good grazing management, to allow desirable native grasses and forbs to eventually replace the sown pasture species.

To identify suitable lucerne varieties for the Mallee and test if there are differences in establishment, persistence and production between them.

To evaluate forage varieties in a cropping system. 

• To identify alternative perennial legumes to lucerne suitable for incorporation within cropping systems, there are at least 3 options potentially adapted to areas within the Eyre Peninsula environment.

To identify alternative perennial legumes to lucerne suitable for incorporation within cropping systems, there are possibly at least 3 options adapted to areas within the Eyre Peninsula environment.

• To allow producer groups to trial new grazing systems in their local environment at a commercial scale.

• To allow producer groups to trial new grazing systems in their local environment at a commercial scale.

To demonstrate and assess the value of sowing into cereals

To assess and evaluated a range of different pasture varieties at three different sites.

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.

To determine the success of Pasture Cropping for different starting pasture compositions and crop sequences (i.e. the difference betweencropping year-after-year compared to doing it once) in comparison to No Till cropping and pasture treatments. Success will be assessed by the profitability of the crop, the grazing value of the pasture, perennial grass recruitment and resource condition.

To develop high water-use farming systems that integrate crops with perennial pastures.

• To report on the development of a rhizobium strain which is able to nodulate with lucerne at lower pH.

To test the viability of establishing lucerne pastures in areas where they have not been traditionally grown.

To conduct a lucerne establishment trial.

To assess the impact of different establishment techniques on lucerne plant densities.

To answer some key questions about lucerne in the crop rotation:

• What is the impact of the lucerne phase on subsequent crops regarding yield, quality, soil moisture and nitrogen?
• What is the best time to remove lucerne - spring or autumn?
• What is the best method of removing lucerne?
• What is the best crop rotation following lucerne?
• What are the management implications of these insights from a farming system?
   

To comment on Lucerne performance in the southern Mallee.

To managing competition and lucerne persistence with sowing configuration.

Aim to develop kinowledge and skills in improved soil moisture profile management to reduce yield loss and maximise profitability. Three moisture probes were established on Felix Farm north west of Ariah Park and Bellevue, south west of Ariah Park.

To discuss nitrogen inputs from pasture and patterns of release for crops.

To report on nitrogen inputs from pasture legumes in a cropping rotation.

To demonstrate that is possible to grow a viable winter crop and still maintain a productive lucerne stand over summer.
 

To investigate herbicide options on newly sown pasture crops at three sites.

The aim of this project was to assess parture herbicide tolerance at Charlton in 2000.

To improve pasture assessment skills of those involved, quantify pasture quality and identify factors which determine productivity.

The trial aims to explore the role that pastures can play in the crop rotation across the South-East region. It aims to quantify the role that pastures can play in providing nitrogen to the cropping system, and also its potential role in managing weed issues in the high rainfall regions compared to a conventional cropping system.

To identify suitable pasture species for the SA Mallee.

Perennial pastures are being investigated for their potential fit in the Wimmera Mallee region.

To find a way to improve the productivity and sustainability of the Darkan river flats.

To test whether sheep grazing in no-till systems damages soil and reduces crop yields.